NHS launches new care board covering Buckinghamshire and Thames Valley
The NHS Thames Valley Integrated Care Board has been launched to strengthen health services and give a more consistent approach.
The launch is an attempt to plan and organise health services in an effective, more unified way. The NHS says that it aims to improve health and care for the 2.5 million people living in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire.
With an annual budget of £5.6 billion, the new NHS Thames Valley Integrated Care Board (ICB) will take responsibility for commissioning high‑quality NHS services across the region, from GP practices and community services to local hospitals.
The change reflects the NHS’s wider national approach, including the Government’s 10‑Year Health Plan and the NHS Model ICB Blueprint, which emphasise more consistent, population‑level planning and reducing unnecessary variations.
Importantly, the way people access services will not change. Patients will continue to use their local GP, community services and hospitals as usual.
The ICB’s role is to strengthen the backbone of these services, improving prevention, shifting more care closer to home, and making better use of digital tools that help people manage their own health.
Dr Nick Broughton, Chief Executive of NHS Thames Valley, said “Today marks a new chapter for health and care across the Thames Valley. As a single strategic commissioner, we are now better positioned to plan services for the long term, reduce inequalities and ensure a more consistent experience for patients, wherever they live in our area.
“Our work will be supported by dedicated NHS staff and strong partnerships with local councils, voluntary and community organisations, primary care and our provider trusts.”
The care board will be working hard to ensure that services are designed around need, not geography. This includes tackling health inequalities, supporting early intervention, and ensuring value for money across the system.
Dr Broughton added “We are committed to breaking down the barriers that prevent some communities from getting the care they need. Our goal is simple: we want to ensure consistent, high‑quality care and better outcomes for every resident across the Thames Valley.”
More information on the change can be found on the new Thames Valley ICB website.