On 13 March 2025, the Government announced that NHSE would be abolished within two years and that the Department would put in place arrangements to deliver the responsibilities currently delivered by NHSE.57 On the same day, as part of our evidence session on the 2023–24 Annual Report and Accounts of the Department for Health and Social Care, we asked the Department and NHSE about reports that Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) had been ordered to cut costs by 50%.58

On 13 March 2025, the Government announced that NHSE would be abolished within two years and that the Department would put in place arrangements to deliver the responsibilities currently delivered by NHSE.57 On the same day, as part of our evidence session on the 2023–24 Annual Report and Accounts of the Department for Health and Social Care, we asked the Department and NHSE about reports that Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) had been ordered to cut costs by 50%.58 Type: conclusion | Number: 26 | Response status: under_consideration Government response: 6.6 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Spring 2026 6.7 The department accepts the Committee’s recommendation and will deliver a modernised health system through the integration of NHS England into DHSC and the associated restructuring of Integrated