The review into commissioning policies outlined below is now underway.

On July 1st 2022 Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board (became the new statutory body responsible for ensuring health care services are available to meet the reasonable needs of the people across the three places).

Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board is required to have clinical commissioning policy statements that set out what services are available for our population as a whole and which are based on eligibility criteria.

As the successor body to the 3 former Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) within Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West, we have inherited each CCG’s clinical commissioning policy statements which set out what services are available for the CCG’s population as a whole and which are based on eligibility criteria.

Each CCG had a suite of policy statements with regards to the commissioning of various health care services. Having considered each policy statement, it is evident that, in respect of the commissioning of some health care services, a degree of variation existed between the CCGs. Where this is the case, it is acknowledged by Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West ICB that there is a need to develop and implement a single suite of commissioning policy statements across the three places as soon as possible so that the commissioning of these services is consistent and applicable going forwards.

Developing a single Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West wide suite of clinical commissioning policy statements is a complex programme of work and requires formal processes to be followed.

In view of the variation between existing policies, and in some cases the age of the existing policies, it is essential that any single suite of clinical commissioning policy statements for Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West reflects and is based on up-to-date clinical practice and research, but also takes into account the current commissioning landscape, the changing needs of the Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West population and the duties on Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West ICB to ensure that health care services are available to meet the reasonable needs of the population.

We have identified 62 (of 112) policy statements where there is little or no variation between the previous CCG policy statements and, having reviewed the policy statements, they are in line with the latest evidence base. It is therefore intended that those policy statements are harmonised into a policy applicable across Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West.

The remaining policy statement, following review, will require more detailed consideration and work to ensure that the harmonisation of these policy statements results in a Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West ICB single suite of policy statements which are up to date and reflect the latest evidence base. This work is in progress and, as appropriate, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West ICB will engage across all three places as part of this process.

We very much hope to be in a position to adopt a single suite of clinical commissioning policy statements across Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West by early 2024, and we will publish new policy statements as soon as these are completed and have been through the relevant engagement and governance processes required.

In the meantime, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West ICB will continue to adopt and operate the CCG policies it has inherited at Place level, which means that there is currently no change in commissioning policy for local people resident in those Places/boroughs from what was in place prior to July 1st 2022.

We will continue to report progress on the development of the new Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West ICB wide policy statements through regular updates via our website and through our local networks within communities.