ICBs tight-lipped on deficits and consequences

Survey of Integrated Care Boards, Key points:

(East of England, London, East Midlands, North East and Yorkshire and North West regions – part 1 of 2)

  1. 18 out of the 23 ICBs surveyed finished the financial year in deficit. and 10 already forecast bigger deficits for 2024-25.
  2. Greater Manchester: “the ICS finds itself starting from a significant underlying financial deficit position of £610m.
  3. To tackle their debts there is emerging evidence that ICBs and their members are discussing bed cuts, recruitment freezes and job losses at all levels. but the current public information lacks openness and clarity,

A new Lowdown survey of published Integrated Care Board papers has given an insight into the growing finance problems facing the NHS.

Full story in The Lowdown, 10 May 2024