We are living through one of the most significant periods of change for the NHS and Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) in recent memory. We know that these are not just abstract policy shifts; for many individuals, the current restructuring, uncertainty, and redundancies are deeply personal, affecting livelihoods and families.
We want to begin by acknowledging the immense pressure this places on the dedicated people within these organisations. It is a difficult and unsettling time, and our thoughts are with everyone impacted.
Sustaining excellence in uncertain times
It’s often during the most challenging times that the most incredible work is done. This year, we felt it was more important than ever to pause and recognise the individuals who continue to innovate and deliver for patients, often in the face of this profound uncertainty.
We had the absolute privilege of hosting two celebration events to put a spotlight on these teams and individuals. It was our chance to say "thank you" and to shout about their amazing achievements. Witnessing that level of dedication, despite the personal and professional pressures, was truly humbling.
We extend our sincere respect and solidarity to everyone working to maintain services and support colleagues during this transition.
The new mandate: pressure meets opportunity
Adding to this pressure is the arrival of the new NHS Strategic Commissioning Framework. This document marks a fundamental reset for IBCs. It consolidates the role of ICBs and states their "central purpose" will be strategic commissioning, explicitly recasting them as "sophisticated and intelligent healthcare payors."
We recognise that this transformation from a broad administrative body to a sharp, "intelligent payor" is a massive undertaking, especially when teams are already stretched. This new role is entirely contingent on one thing: high-quality, linked data.
The framework is unequivocal, moving strategic commissioning from a vague concept to a set of concrete, time-bound actions. For ICB leaders, two mandates stand out:
- The Integrated Needs Assessment (Deadline: March 2026): By March 2026, every ICB must produce its first annual INA, which requires a "fully linked and costed person-level data set." This is the foundation for segmenting populations, stratifying health risks, and identifying inequalities.
- The 'Intelligence Function' (Deadline: March 2027): To power the INA, each ICB must establish a formal "Intelligence Function" by March 2027. This is the new data-analytics engine to generate "actionable insight" and leverage tools like the Federated Data Platform (FDP).
The challenge is clear. Making the tough, evidence-led decisions to "rearrange and, potentially, decommission services" is impossible with the fragmented, siloed data systems of the past.
A partner for the next stage
This is where we hope our experience can serve as a steadying hand.
“Having worked extensively with healthcare organisations at national, regional, and local levels to unlock the true power of their data, we are more than ready to help ICBs achieve their goals”. - Dr Gareth Whiteley, Head of Data.
Our experience combines deep technical expertise with a genuine partnership approach. We’ve been in the trenches with teams to transform complex information into clear, actionable insights.
Meeting the March 2026 and 2027 deadlines requires a specialist partner who understands both the technical architecture and the strategic goals of the framework. Our Data Capability is directly aligned to solve these exact challenges.
1. Building the Foundation for your INA (March 2026).
You cannot produce the Integrated Needs Assessment without that "fully linked and costed person-level data set." We partner with you on the Data Strategy, Governance, and Engineering to create this foundational 'single source of truth', making accurate population segmentation and risk stratification possible.
2. Delivering Your 'Intelligence Function' (March 2027).
An 'Intelligence Function' is more than a team; it's a data platform. We design and build the analytics platforms and architectures that serve as the technical engine for this new function, enabling your teams to move from simple reporting to the predictive modelling and AI-driven insights the framework envisions.
3. Enabling the 'Intelligent Payor'
To become an "intelligent payor," your decisions must be underpinned by robust data. We help you activate your data, whether in a local platform or through national tools like the NHS FDP, to generate the actionable insights needed for true Population Health Management and to apply the "health economics methods" the framework now requires.
We are here when you're ready
We understand that for many, the immediate focus is on navigating the current changes and supporting your teams. The era of strategic commissioning is here, and it runs on data.
When you are ready to look at the next stage of the plan, we’re here to listen, to understand your new priorities, and to partner with you in building the data foundations for it.
For now, we stand with our NHS and ICB colleagues.