Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the delegation of certain specialised services to Integrated Care Systems (ICS) under proposed reforms to the NHS, when he plans to announce the specialised services that will (a) remain under NHS England commissioning and (b) be delegated to ICSs.

There are no plans to fully delegate NHS England’s functions for specialised services in 2022/23. Subject to the passage of the Health and Care Bill, certain specialised services may become subject to joint commissioning arrangements between NHS England and integrated care boards during 2022/23. The services which would benefit from this more integrated commissioning approach remain under consideration. Further details will be provided before April 2022.

NHS England will remain accountable for all specialised services, including those that are jointly commissioned or delegated. NHS England will retain responsibility for setting national standards and clinical policies determining access to both new and existing treatments. There are currently no plans to delist any services as specialised services.