Integrated Care Boards: Access to Services

Baroness Nargund Excerpts

Tuesday 8th September 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

One of the major shifts for the NHS now and in the future is about moving services from hospitals to communities; we had a Question on that just yesterday. It is important to say that the fundamentals of oversight, which we are improving, will be through the NHS oversight framework, which will be clear about delivery and approach. I should add that NHS England will be able to focus on helping the most challenged organisations with their performance and capabilities. If there are problems such as those that the noble Baroness described, they will be identified.

[Baroness Nargund (Lab)]

My Lords, access to women’s health services varies significantly across the country, with women from deprived areas and some ethnic-minority communities facing particular barriers. Therefore, what steps are the Government taking to ensure that ICBs not only commission but deliver equitable women’s health services in all regions, so that a woman’s ability to access timely diagnosis and treatment is not determined by her postcode, ethnicity or social deprivation?

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

My noble friend makes an important set of observations. I can reassure your Lordships’ House that reducing inequalities is absolutely hard-wired throughout our renewed women’s health strategy. For example, we are redesigning clinical pathways for the most common women’s health conditions, and that will standardise and improve care across the country.