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The creation of the Thames Valley Integrated Care Board

  • Writer: Healthwatch Wokingham
    Healthwatch Wokingham
  • 1 day ago
  • 2 min read

There are big changes taking place within the NHS as part of the Government's 10-year plan to help improve healthcare for everyone in England. Some of these changes will affect how local services are planned and delivered across the borough and county of Berkshire.


What is an ICB?

Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) are NHS organisations that plan and fund local health and care services. They work with GPs, hospitals, councils, and other partners to:

  • Improve overall health in communities

  • Reduce health inequalities

  • Ensure access to high-quality care for everyone


What’s changing?

As part of the Government's 10-year plan, ICBs will:

  • Focus more on local health needs, helping people stay well, not just treating illness

  • Share responsibilities with local hospitals and councils, so decisions are made closer to communities

  • Reduce running costs by working more efficiently

  • Collaborate across regions to reduce duplication and improve services


Changes in Thames Valley

A new NHS Thames Valley ICB is being created to serve 2.5 million people across:

  • Buckinghamshire

  • Oxfordshire

  • Berkshire


Thames Valley ICB will officially launch in April 2026. In the meantime:

  • East Berkshire has joined the new group

  • Surrey Heath, Ash & Farnham will join Surrey & Sussex ICB

  • North East Hampshire will join Hampshire & Isle of Wight ICB


Why this matters?

The aim is to:

  • Bring care closer to home and to make services work together better

  • Make sure everyone gets the same quality of care, no matter where they live

  • Spend NHS money more carefully and avoid waste

  • Plan services that match what local people actually need


For more information about these changes, please visit: NHS Thames Valley ICB: update on changes to Integrated Care Boards | BOB ICB

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