NHS boards to explore 'joint working' to cut costs

A "significant number" of staff face job losses as a result of the move

Two NHS boards in Sussex and Surrey are to "explore joint working" as part of a government savings drive.

Surrey Heartlands and Sussex integrated care boards (ICBs), which oversee the running of health services in their respective counties, have confirmed the move after being told to halve their running costs by December.

The changes are part of the latest round of NHS reforms which include the abolition of NHS England and the scrapping of independent watchdog Healthwatch.

At a Brighton and Hove City Council meeting last month, Stephen Lightfoot, chairman of NHS Sussex, said a "significant number" of the boards' staff faced losing their jobs.

In identically worded statements, Surrey Heartlands and Sussex ICBs said: "As with all ICBs in the England, we have been exploring joint working to fulfil the requirements being asked of us by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and NHS England.

"Our proposal to work collaboratively with NHS Sussex is supported by NHS England and we are now working together on transition plans."

Earlier this year a DHSC spokesperson said the government was committed to "cutting back on unnecessary bureaucracy" and "reinvesting savings in frontline care".

Around 9,000 administrative roles are being cut at NHS England and the DHSC as part of the changes - amounting to roughly 50% of all roles at the two organisations.

The addition of Surrey and Sussex makes a total of 13 clusters or mergers confirmed across the 42 ICBs in England so far.