The Department of Health and Social Care has published the Hewitt review terms of reference for the independent review of integrated care systems in England.
The review was commissioned by chancellor Jeremy Hunt and health and social care secretary Steve Barclay as part of the autumn statement issued last month. The review will be led by former health secretary and current Norfolk & Waveney ICS chair Patricia Hewitt.
The ToR confirm a rapid timetable with interim findings due on 16 December with a first draft by 31 January 2023 and a final report by 15 March 2023.
According to the ToR, “The review will consider how the oversight and governance of ICSs can best enable them to succeed, balancing greater autonomy and robust accountability with a particular focus on real time data shared digitally with the Department of Health and Social Care, and on the availability and use of data across the health and care system for transparency and improvement. It will cover ICSs in England and the NHS targets and priorities for which integrated care boards (ICBs) are accountable, including those set out in the government’s mandate to NHS England.”
The ToR review will consider and make recommendations on:
- how to empower local leaders to focus on improving outcomes for their populations giving them greater control while making them more accountable for performance and spending
- the options for a significantly smaller number of national targets for which NHS Integrated Care Boards should be both held accountable for and supported to improve by NHS England and other national bodies
- how the role of the Care Quality Commission can be enhanced in system oversight
Commenting on the Hewitt review ToR, the interim chief executive of NHS Providers, Saffron Cordery said:
"At a time of sustained pressure across the health and care system, ensuring the right oversight, accountability and support for trusts and integrated care systems is essential.”
“Trust leaders therefore welcome the areas of focus in the Hewitt review...They want to see fewer national targets and greater autonomy locally to decide how best to deliver care for their populations.”
Our content explained
Every piece of content we create is correct on the date it’s published but please don’t rely on it as legal advice. If you’d like to speak to us about your own legal requirements, please contact one of our expert lawyers.