Why might flagship STP delay ICS status?
A high-flying sustainability and transformation partnership (STP) has delayed plans to become a pioneer integrated care system (ICS).
Instead of becoming a fully-fledged ICS, Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes (BLMK) STP will remain a shadow ICS during 2018, Health Service Journal editors have reported.
Last summer NHS England announced that BLMK would be one of 10 shadow ICSs that it hoped would become fully operational during 2018/19.
No reason for the delay has been given, but earlier this month it was reported that many of the designated ICS areas had rejected terms for the required single system control total put forward by NHS England and NHS Improvement.
Also, a paper presented to joint clinical commissioning group (CCG) governing body meeting said that BLMK had sought permission to operate two separate subsystem control totals.
The STP’s CCGs have also agreed to share a single chief officer this year to release scarce resources for commissioning. There are reported to be no plans for a formal merger, however.
BLMK member Bedfordshire CCG re-entered NHS England’s financial special measures in 2017, following an increase in its forecast cumulative deficit.
Further information
Health Service Journal: Leading health system will not become ‘full’ ICS this year