Over the last few months, NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care have been discussing closer working, reducing duplication and reforming the size and functions of NHS organisations to support the Government’s priorities for the health service.
As part of this reform and the stated desire to maximise use of taxpayers’ money to support frontline services, ICBs, through a clustering arrangement, will work on larger footprints in the future to meet their strategic commissioning responsibilities and reduce their running costs.
Prior to any future merger, the current ICBs (NHS Gloucestershire ICB and NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire ICB) will continue to be statutory bodies and legal entities in their own right but will work together in partnership to deliver the health priorities of local people.
A single Chair and Chief Executive for the cluster were appointed in September 2025, and work is ongoing to develop a single executive team structure.
Updates on NHS changes will be added to our news pages, and listed below.
Latest updates
- Update on changes to NHS Integrated Care Boards
13 October, 2025 - Dr. Jeff Farrar appointed NHS Integrated Care Board Cluster Chair
1 September, 2025 - Changes affecting NHS Integrated Care Boards
25 June, 2025 - Changes affecting NHS Integrated Care Boards
5 June, 2025 - Stakeholder briefing: ICB organisational development update
12 May, 2025 - Announcement on NHS running costs and how this affects Gloucestershire
17 March, 2025
Joint Transition Committee
The Joint Transition Committee has been set up to oversee and manage the safe and effective transition as the two organisations move towards merging. It makes key decisions, monitors progress, and ensures the Boards are kept informed throughout the process.
Membership
Name | Job Title |
---|---|
Dr Jeff Farrar | Cluster Chair, Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG) ICB and Gloucestershire ICBs |
Raz Akbar | Non-Executive Director and Audit Chair, South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust |
Matt Backler | Interim Chief Financial Officer, BNSSG ICB |
John Cappock | Non-Executive Director and Audit Chair, BNSSG ICB |
Karen Clements | Non-Executive Director, Gloucestershire ICB |
Tracey Cox | Director of People, Culture and Engagement, Gloucestershire ICB |
Jane Cummings | Non-Executive Director and Deputy Chair, Gloucestershire ICB |
Shane Devlin | Cluster Chief Executive, BNSSG and Gloucestershire ICBs |
Jo Hicks | Chief People Officer, BNSSG ICB |
Tracie Jolliff | Chair of BNSSG Independent Advisory Group on race equity |
Cath Leech | Chief Financial Officer, Gloucestershire ICB |
Alison Moon | Non-Executive Director and Deputy Chair, BNSSG ICB |
Jo Walker | Chief Executive, Gloucestershire County Council |
Papers
- Communication update (Oct 2025)