Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made, if any, of the impact of announced 50 per cent cuts to the running costs of integrated care boards on the provision of support to blood cancer patients, particularly in relation to patient experience and shared decision-making initiatives.

As part of the necessary changes to support the National Health Service to recover, NHS England has indicated that integrated care boards (ICBs) should reduce in size. The Government is supportive of NHS England’s decision and will work with NHS England to make the tough choices that are needed to get the NHS back on its feet. We expect ICBs to deliver on all of their commissioning responsibilities, including the provision of support for blood cancer patients. The Department has not carried out an assessment in regard to this area.