Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to ensure that (a) patients and (b) the public are consulted on the creation of Accountable Care Systems.

Next Steps on the Five Year Forward View described Accountable Care Systems (ACS) as an ‘evolved’ version of a Sustainability and Transformation Partnership (STP), working as a locally integrated health system. Simon Stevens announced at the NHS Confederation Conference that nine areas, covering eight STPs, would become ACSs in the first wave.

STPs have previously engaged with patients and the public on their plans for the local area, and local engagement continues to play a key part in the development of the footprint. As ACSs are established, we expect that local engagement will continue to play a fundamental part in the development process.

No significant changes to the services people currently receive will be made without local engagement and, where required, consultation. There are longstanding assurance processes in place to make sure this happens.