A new network has been launched for chief nurses of integrated care boards (ICBs), which are now in place in every part of England following NHS reforms.
The new ICB Chief Nurse Network has been established by NHS Confederation and The Queen’s Nursing Institute (QNI), which are working in partnership to support nurse leadership in ICBs.
The network will be chaired by district nurse Louise Patten, who is integrated care system (ICS) strategic advisor at the NHS Confederation, and a fellow of the QNI.
“It is intended that the network… will enable chief nurses to share ideas, experience and learning as ICBs develop”
Matthew Taylor
Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, said: “It is intended that the network, facilitated and supported by NHS Confederation and the QNI, will enable chief nurses to share ideas, experience and learning as ICBs develop.”
Mr Taylor said both his organisation and the QNI “recognise the need for a clinical leadership approach that focusses on building relationships, broad collaboration across provider organisations, and enhancing the transformation agenda across the system, which will underpin and inform the ethos of the new network”.
Likewise, Dr Crystal Oldman, chief executive of the QNI, said: “The two organisations have a shared ambition to support the development of clinical leadership within ICSs, and to support the objectives behind integrating care, improving population health and tackling inequalities.
“This direction of travel aligns with the overall aim, purpose and values of the QNI and I am very much looking forward to modelling a partnership way of working with the NHS Confederation.”
The ICBs have been established as part of reforms in England that came into force on a statutory basis on 1 July 2022 and aim to force better integration and joint working between health and care services in local areas.
There are now 42 ICSs in place covering every part of the country and each system has an ICB.
The ICB is responsible for arranging the provision of health services and managing the NHS budget in their local area.
The ICBs have replaced clinical commissioning groups (CCGs).
NHS England guidance, published in June 2021, stated ICBs should have a director of nursing within their membership.
The nursing director role is also listed as a requirement in the guidance NHS England published on the constitution of ICBs, in May 2022.
