The Government has announced major changes to NHS structures, including the abolition of NHS England and a directive for Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) to cut their running costs by 50% within six months.
This move is expected to lead to significant job losses and uncertainty across the VCSE sector.
For Gloucestershire, this raises concerns about how these cuts will affect our local ICB, frontline services, and the VCSE sector. Many ICBs are already facing financial deficits, and there are concerns that reductions in operational costs could impact place-based teams and the delivery of local healthcare services. The long-term implications for NHS priorities, including the long-awaited 10-year plan, remain unclear.
The VCSE sector and the ICB have built strong relationships over the last 3 years. We see the positive impact of these relationships throughout the VCSE sector and feel that our communities are better served as a result. We all build relationships with people, not organisations, and the likely loss of key roles within the ICB is worrying for all of us as it threatens the progress we are making. We work together as a system and must stand together in difficult times.
The Gloucestershire VCSE Alliance wants to send a message of support to our colleagues at the ICB that recognises the dedication and hard work they put in every day to achieve our shared vision of reducing inequalities and making Gloucestershire a better place to live.
We recognise that this is an extremely challenging and unsettling time for health and care staff across Gloucestershire. Behind these policy decisions are real people—dedicated professionals committed to providing high-quality care in increasingly difficult circumstances. These cuts will affect not just staff but also the communities they serve, including their own families, friends, and colleagues.
As we await further details on the local impact of these changes, we stand in solidarity with our NHS colleagues in Gloucestershire. We remain committed to supporting integrated, prevention-focused community healthcare and will work alongside our partners to navigate these challenges while continuing to advocate for high-quality services for all.
For further information, the NHS Confederation has published a briefing available here: NHS Confederation Briefing.
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