Far-Reaching NHS Changes To Be Examined By Isle Of Wight Council Committee

The impact on Island residents of far-reaching changes to the way local NHS organisations operate will be scrutinised by an Isle of Wight Council committee tomorrow evening.

Adult social care, public health and housing needs committee members are due to examine the Model Integrated Care Board (ICB) Blueprint – a document setting out the future roles and functions of ICBs.

ICBs are responsible for planning health services for their local population, with the Island falling under NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight.

The Blueprint was ‘developed collaboratively by ICB leaders across various regions’, according to a council report.

Its focus is on ‘improving population health, reducing inequalities and enhancing care quality’.

In a document published prior to tomorrow’s meeting, NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight said:

“2025/26 is a year of significant change in the way we work as an organisation to deliver a more efficient public service for our population.

"This is all the more important in light of the decision for ICBs to reduce running and programme costs by 50 per cent by quarter three of this year.

“This is in addition to the proposed changes taking place at a national level that will see NHS England come together with the Department of Health and Social Care and regions having new responsibilities.

“The changes in the NHS come at a time of substantial change in local government with both devolution and local government reorganisation.

“We are currently working at pace to evolve and strengthen how we work as an organisation and across the wider system in response to all these changes taking place across the public sector.”

Functions the Model Blueprint suggests should be grown and invested in include population health management, health inequalities and inclusion expertise and epidemiological capability.

Those the Blueprint advises should be transferred over time include infection prevention and control, Emergency Preparedness, Resilience and Response (EPRR) and local workforce development and training.

The adult social care, public health and housing needs committee will meet at County Hall at 5pm tomorrow evening.