“Half a billion pounds on payouts for a shambolic NHS shake-up,” say Lib Dems

EMBARGO: Immediate Release

Responding to the National Audit Office’s report into the restructuring of Integrated Care Boards (ICBs), Helen Morgan MP, Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Health and Social Care, said:

“This damning report lays bare the true cost of the Government’s shambolic NHS reorganisation. More than half a billion pounds has been squandered on redundancy payouts and around 8,000 posts are going, yet NHS England isn’t even tracking which roles are being cut. Running costs are still set to be £200 million over target. That is a complete waste of money and time.

“Health boundaries are being redrawn on a completely different timetable from Labour’s chaotic local government reorganisation, and only six out of 25 ICB areas actually line up with the new strategic authorities. Communities everywhere risk having decisions about their care made further and further away from them.

“Ministers still haven’t defined what ICBs are actually for. The Department of Health and Social Care must finally set out a real plan for ICBs. Patients and hardworking healthcare professionals deserve stability, not another round of chaotic upheaval.”

ENDS

Notes to Editor:

NAO Restructuring of Integrated Care Boards report here.