Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

English Devolution: Integrated Care Boards

Tuesday 6 May 2025 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Blake Stephenson questioned the Minister about the funding deadlock for a GP surgery in Wixams, suggesting that new mayors should have the power to resolve such issues.
  • Alice Macdonald inquired about the Norfolk and Waveney integrated care board's proposal to close Norwich's walk-in centre, which faced opposition from the city and Norfolk two years ago.
  • The Minister stressed the importance of local accountability and the need for housing expansions to be supported by local infrastructure improvements.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Blake Stephenson Con Mid Bedfordshire
NHS
Context

The MP raised concerns about the lack of cooperation between developers, local councils, and ICBs regarding GP surgery funding in Wixams.

Question

Funding and delivery of a GP surgery for Wixams in my constituency continues to fall between the cracks of developers, local councils and the local ICB. Does the Minister agree that to break those deadlocks and build the infrastructure that our communities require, new mayors should have the power to direct ICBs, making locally elected politicians responsible rather than unelected quangos?

Answer from The Minister for Secondary Care (Karin Smyth)

The hon. Member tempts me slightly on local accountability, on which he has been a strong campaigner. As he knows from meeting me, I agree that it is important that such local bodies respond properly so that where there are expansions of housing, which we want to see, they are supported by local infrastructure. I am happy to come back to him with any further detail.

Partly answered

How: Local Accountability, Strong Campaigner

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Q2 Alice Macdonald Labour (Co-op) Norwich North
NHS Local Government
Context

The MP mentioned that the Norfolk and Waveney integrated care board is consulting again on closing Norwich’s walk-in centre despite previous objections from residents.

Question

Norfolk and Waveney integrated care board is consulting once again on closing Norwich’s walk-in centre. It asked the same question two years ago and the city and Norfolk said, “No, we want to save our walk-in centre.” Does the Minister agree on the importance of walk-in centres, and in the context of devolution, how will we ensure that ICBs heed what residents say?

Answer from The Minister for Secondary Care (Karin Smyth)

My hon. Friend is right to campaign on behalf of her constituents to make sure that more services are delivered in communities. We want to see services brought out of hospital and into local communities. It is up to the ICB to decide how those are commissioned, but we will certainly make sure that, as part of our commitments under our 10-year plan, we see more of those sorts of services working together in neighbourhoods.

Partly answered

How: Services Brought Out Of Hospital, Local Communities

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