1. Introduction

1.1 The 10 Year Health Plan stated that integrated care boards (ICBs) will move to coterminosity – that is to say, they will share the same borders – with strategic authorities wherever feasibly possible. The local government reform process is moving to all of England being covered by strategic (including mayoral) authorities and unitary or metropolitan borough authorities.

1.2 This coterminosity is part of the greater consistency that will be brought to ICBs as they become strategic commissioners, all operating at a scale that allows them to run resilient and specialised teams within the running costs cap.

1.3 In this context, new ICB footprints, have been or will be determined, with changes to be implemented on 1 April 2026 and 1 April 2027. It is accepted that some ICBs will cover more than 1 strategic authority.

1.4 This guidance supports implementation of the changes that will take effect on 1 April 2026 and April 2027. The existing NHS England integrated care system boundary changes and mergers procedure was designed to support ICB-initiated changes, an approach that legislation allows. However, that guidance does not fully address the approach where the implementation process is led by NHS England as part of a broader reorganisation, without applications being made by individual ICBs.

1.5 The merger process will abolish some existing ICBs and establish new successor ICBs, ensuring ICB areas cover the whole of England. Since ICB and integrated care system (ICS) geography is identical, ICB changes identically amend ICS footprints. For clarity, this publication refers only to ICB changes, but by implication this also covers ICS changes. It covers three possible scenarios:- ICB mergers with no change to the combined outer boundary of the merging ICBs, mergers involving a change to the combined outer boundary and boundary changes independent of mergers.

1.6 The implementation of ICB mergers and boundary changes to take effect on 1 April 2026 and April 2027 is being led by NHS England, which will exercise its power to vary or revoke the Establishment Order, thereby abolishing or establishing ICBs or changing the boundaries of existing ICBs.

1.7 NHS England (primarily through regional teams) will support ICBs undertaking mergers and boundary changes throughout the implementation phase. This will involve signposting other relevant guidance (including, but not limited to, that linked within this publication). NHS England will also provide specialist advice to ICBs, for example, on human resources matters and on how ICBs work with third-party suppliers on finance changes. NHS England and ICBs need to work closely to jointly deliver the necessary changes and provide each other with assurance of progress through regular dialogue. In addition, ICBs may wish to obtain their own independent advice, for example, legal advice. NHS England cannot provide legal advice to ICBs as separate statutory organisations.

1.8 NHS England will issue a detailed timeline of actions to the relevant ICBs to complement this guidance and support all those involved (ICBs, regional and national NHS England teams, as well as third-party suppliers) to implement the necessary changes by the relevant date (1 April 2026 or 1 April 2027).

1.9 NHS England will also issue a due diligence checklist to the relevant ICBs to support them to ensure that all ICB functions are considered in the change management process, that important information is collated and shared between existing ICBs and the new ICB, and that there is appropriate apportionment of property and staff in the case of boundary changes (see section 4 for more detail).

2. Communications and engagement before and during implementation

2.1 In all cases of mergers or boundary changes, NHS England has a legal duty under section 14Z25 (7) of the National Health Service Act 2006 (the Act) (as amended by the Health and Care Act 2022), to consult with any ICB it considers likely to be affected by any proposed variation or revocation of the Establishment Order, that is, mergers to create new ICBs or changes to existing ICB boundaries.

2.2 In developing plans for ICB mergers and boundary changes, NHS England must engage with affected ICBs. In turn, those ICBs should engage with those local authorities that have adult social care responsibilities within the existing and proposed new ICB boundaries. These local authorities are the ICB’s statutory partners and nominate a member of the ICB board.

2.3 Following public announcement of the proposed mergers and boundary changes by minsters and NHS England, affected ICBs should engage with staff and with all other organisations within their integrated care partnership (ICP), plus other stakeholders, including patients, communities, MPs and other elected officials. This will support them to understand the proposed changes and implications, enable them to provide feedback and to ensure that they are appropriately informed about – and involved in – preparations for the changes. ICBs must also carry out a formal consultation with staff affected by the transfer. ICBs will be expected to inform NHS England of feedback they receive from this engagement so NHS England can consider this in its decision making.

3. Integrated care board governance

3.1 NHS England will require merging ICBs to prepare constitutions for their successor ICBs, which will be established on 1 April 2026 or 2027. Where boundary changes affect existing ICBs, those ICBs must prepare constitutions taking effect on the same date. The new constitution should be based on the NHS England ICB model constitution, subject to any amendments agreed with NHS England. 

3.2 The relevant NHS England regional director will need to approve the new constitution. Once approved, these documents, plus any revised or new core governance documents within the ICB’s governance handbook, must be published on the relevant ICB websites on 1 April when the changes come into effect.

3.3 The draft Order, reflecting the establishment of new ICBs through merger and / or revised boundaries of existing ICBs will be shared with the existing ICBs to confirm the changes are accurately reflected, before being signed off by the NHS England chief executive and published on the NHS England website. The map of ICBs on the NHS England website will be updated to reflect the new geography on 1 April 2026 and 2027.

3.4 The ICBs will need to work with their system partners to ensure that where a new ICB is being legally established on 1 April 2026, that a new ICP is also appropriately established and that any approved boundary changes are reflected in the membership of the relevant ICPs. In line with the 10 Year Health Plan, this requirement may not apply for April 2027 (depending on the passage of legislation). In accordance with the legislation, the ICB and all local authorities within the area of the ICB must form the membership of the ICP. In addition, ICBs will need to work with their local resilience forums to ensure that there is a seamless transfer to any new working arrangements in respect of emergency preparedness, resilience, and response (EPRR).

3.5 The proposed mergers and boundary changes scheduled to come into effect on 1 April 2026 will impact the commissioning services (primary care and an agreed set of specialised services) currently delegated to ICBs under delegation agreements with NHS England. New delegation agreements will be issued for the new ICBs and these must be signed by the new ICB chief executives and relevant NHS England regional director ready to take effect from 1 April 2026.

4. Transfer of staff, assets, liabilities, rights and responsibilities and establishment

4.1 Under section 14Z28 of the Act, NHS England may make transfer schemes in connection with the variation of the constitution of an ICB, or the abolition of an ICB. Any such transfer scheme would cover the transfer of staff and property, liabilities, rights and responsibilities from 1 ICB to 1 or more other ICBs or, in exceptional circumstances, from an ICB to NHS England. Property includes data and the rights to use and hold data, and all contracts and rights to claim under contracts. Similarly, liabilities include claims, obligations arising under contracts and criminal liabilities.

4.2 In ICB mergers, a transfer scheme is always required when boundaries remain entirely aligned to the combination of existing outer boundaries, regardless of whether 1 or more ICBs are abolished to form a new ICB, or 1 or more ICBs merge into an existing ICB. The transfer scheme would generally be expected to provide for the transfer of all staff, property and liabilities of the ICB(s) being abolished into the new ICB, or the ICB that the ICB(s) being abolished are merging to. Where that is the case, there would be no need for lists of staff and property transferring in the transfer scheme, although staff lists should be prepared to support the change management process and it is recommended that property lists are created as part of the due diligence exercise.

4.3 For boundary changes, whether a transfer scheme is required will depend on the extent of the change, and considerations about the impact on staff, assets, liabilities, rights and responsibilities. Considerations include whether any staff will need to change ICB employer, whether the ICB estate will have to be differently apportioned, and whether contracts will be affected. It may not be required in the case of a minor boundary change. Where a transfer scheme is required for more substantial boundary changes, it will need to be made with associated schedules listing the staff and property to transfer from 1 ICB to another. Staff will always need to be listed individually. A proportionate approach should be taken to the listing of property. In the scenario where an existing ICB is to be abolished and its geographical area is to be split between other ICBs, its staff and property and liabilities will need to be apportioned accordingly, and the transfer scheme will need to reflect the agreed apportionment. NHS England regional teams will work with ICBs on this.

4.4 As part of their due diligence, and in preparation for transfers where staff need listing individually, the existing ICBs must confirm in writing that they have properly prepared comprehensive information regarding staff proposed to transfer. NHS England will issue a template to ICBs. This list must include all staff of the existing ICBs who are proposed to transfer, including:

• staff on long term sick leave, maternity or adoption leave
• staff on a career break or secondment
• suspended staff
• staff who are working for a contracted-out service that will be transferred under the scheme

4.5 Note: anyone who holds an external contract as an independent contractor should not be listed as staff transferring – but the contract should be listed under the property schedule. The only exception to this is where the contract is being brought back into the new ICB staffing configuration, in which case these individuals would need to be included in the staff list and consulted with. ICB people or human resources (HR) teams will need to ensure that there is appropriate consultation with staff and trade unions about the transfer in accordance with Transfer or Undertakings (Protection of Employment) (TUPE) Regulations or Cabinet Office Statement of Practice on Staff Transfers in the Public Sector (CoSOP) processes. Any schedules to the transfer scheme should be signed by the chief executives of the ICBs concerned (sender(s) and receiver(s)).

4.6 The existing ICBs should undertake a thorough due diligence exercise for the transfer of any property, liabilities, rights and responsibilities (as a minimum, using the template due diligence checklist to be supplied by NHS England and guidance available from NHS England regional teams) in advance of the merger or boundary change to understand and plan for the transfer, including checks of leases, contracts and service level agreement documentation.

4.7 Use of transfer schemes negates the requirement for service contracts to be novated. However, existing ICBs should consider the suitability of their existing contracts to meet the requirements of the new ICB following the merger and may decide to adjust these, where permitted by the relevant contract terms. They should engage with their contractors and service delivery partners to explain that contracts will continue with the new organisation, unless otherwise planned for and advised. Specific requirements under contracts or leases should also be considered (e.g. notification requirements). The existing ICBs should consider whether any contracts or agreements will expire at or before the point of transfer, and whether these should be renewed or re-procured in advance. Contractors will need to be notified of changes associated with a merger, such as points of contact and invoicing arrangements. It is recommended that ICBs seek legal advice on issues such as whether changes to employment contracts are possible, following a merger.

4.8 Following assurance from the chief executives of the relevant ICBs of the due diligence process and preparatory activity (including engagement with stakeholders) having been satisfactorily completed, the NHS England chief executive will sign the relevant Order and then the transfer scheme. Both the Order and the transfer scheme will come into effect at the same time (00:00 hours on 1 April 2026 or 1 April 2027, unless there are exceptional circumstances which change the timing of the ‘go live’ date). Through the Order, the approved set of new ICBs will be established and existing ones abolished and boundary changes will come into effect; through the transfer scheme, staff and property will be transferred from the existing ICBs to new ICBs or apportioned between ICBs in the case of boundary changes.

5. Formal notifications of mergers and boundary changes coming into effect

5.1 The NHS England chief executive will issue a formal letter to the relevant ICB chief executives, copying in the appropriate regional director(s), confirming in advance the establishment of new ICBs, the abolition of existing ICBs and any boundary changes to take effect on 1 April 2026 or 1 April 2027. This will note: 

• the terms or effect of the Order and the transfer scheme approved and signed by the NHS England chief executive
• the new constitutions or revisions to the relevant ICB constitution(s)
• delegation agreements approved by the relevant regional director.

5.2 The NHS England System Architecture team will ensure that the relevant regional teams receive a copy of the chief executive’s letter and that national, regional and ICB communications teams are prepared and are ready to take appropriate action. This will include advance discussion with the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) about communicating the mergers and any boundary changes.

6. Financial changes

6.1 ICB financial allocations are primarily calculated with reference to the registered patient lists of GP practices associated with the ICB. The central NHS England finance team will estimate the split of existing allocations with reference to the GP lists attached to the proposed new ICB. These allocations will be shared with NHS England regional finance teams and ICBs to resolve any identified issues in relation to the mapping of individual practices and as part of a quality assurance process. NHS England regional finance teams and merging ICBs should therefore be prepared to review and respond to queries as they arise by the end of September preceding a 1 April merger, so these can be as accurate as possible in advance of the publication of the following year’s allocations and later adjustments are minimised. To a lesser extent, the allocations are also affected by the attribution of Lower Layer Super Output Areas (LSOAs) to ICBs. Regional finance teams and ICBs should also be ready to confirm these to minimise later adjustments.

6.2 The financial apportionment arrangements between NHS trusts, foundation trusts and ICBs will need to be reviewed alongside all proposed ICB mergers and boundary changes. NHS England central finance and regional finance teams will confirm these arrangements with the impacted trusts and ICBs in the September preceding the proposed changes on the following 1 April, in advance of the publication of allocations and based on the proposed footprints. ICB teams will need to ensure that all trusts and foundation trusts due to be re-apportioned to ICBs in the new financial year are included as partner trusts in the constitutions of the relevant new ICBs, in compliance with Integrated Care Boards (Nomination of Ordinary Members) Regulations 2022.

6.3 Following approval of a merger, the central NHS England finance team will arrange for letters to be sent from the NHS England chief financial officer to Government Banking Services at the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and to IBM to detail the merger and request support to facilitate the merger process. The existing ICBs should agree between themselves which of their existing bank accounts is to be changed to the new ICB name from the date of its proposed establishment, and each 1 will need to write to RBS accordingly.

6.4 A change request will need to be submitted to NHS Shared Business Services (SBS) detailing the requirement to create a ledger for any new ICB to be established by merger.

6.5 There will also need to be provision for the existing ICBs’ financial arrangements to be closed down and they will need to request that closing accounts are drawn up. Chapter 19 of the SharePoint NHS England Financial Library provides detailed technical guidance on this (login required) and other financial considerations. 

7. Digital, data, informatics and information governance changes – ICB mergers and splits to create new ICBs

7.1 The merging ICBs should decide between themselves which ICB will take responsibility for the digital implementation process to set up the proposed new ICB on behalf of the other(s), except where indicated otherwise. The responsible ICB team should contact the NHS Organisation Data Service (ODS) to notify them of the proposed merger. The forms detailed below should be completed as required via the NHS National IT Customer Support Portal (login required). Instructions to ICB teams for submitting requests can be found at the Organisation Data Service (ODS).

7.2 Organisation code request form – for the new ICB to be established by merger. This should include the extract of the minutes of the NHS England Executive meeting approving the proposed merger or the formal notification to the existing ICB chief executives. Upon submission, the responsible ICB team must confirm which ICBs are merging to establish the new ICB, and if any existing ICB is to be split. For any new ICB to be established by merger, a new ICB ODS code will be required. ODS will reserve a new ICB code and provide an Organisation Detail Report containing the name and address of the headquarters for the new ICB and the newly reserved ICB code. This form will be sent to the responsible ICB team for them to progress further implementation work.

7.3 ODS will assume that all existing sub ICB location codes under the existing or merging ICBs will be retained. They will update the geographic relationship between each sub ICB location code by end dating or closing the existing relationship and adding a new geographic relationship to the new ICB code. ODS will liaise with the responsible ICB team to confirm updates required to the names of the retained sub ICB location codes, as the naming convention for these includes the ICB name, so will need to reflect the new ICB name.

7.4 Boundary change form – this form can only accommodate information about 2 ICBs; if there are more than 2 ICBs involved in the merger or split, additional forms must be submitted.

7.5 Upon submission, the responsible ICB team must confirm the following in the ODS ICB boundary change form:

• the names and ODS codes of the 2 ICBs involved in the merger or split boundary change
• the ONS Lower Layer Super Output Areas (LSOAs) codes and names of those that are moving from the current (sending) ICB to the new (receiving) ICB
• the current and new sub ICB location codes for the LSOAs that are moving
• the names and ODS codes for any other ICB(s) involved in the merger or split
• that all the LSOAs in the existing ICB to be abolished have been reallocated to another ICB (either existing or new).

7.6 GP Practice moves form – a merger or split will be accompanied by the movement of GP practices. Changes to GP practices will be reflected in data published by ODS, based on data managed by NHS Business Services Authority (BSA). The responsible ICB team must complete the ODS GP practice migration form. This will include:

• the names and ODS codes of the GP practices that are moving
• the current and new ICB codes and names for these GP practices
• the current and new sub ICB location codes for these GP practices
• if there are PCN changes to follow.

7.7 The ODS team will inform NHS BSA of the GP practice migrations. BSA will verify and confirm these changes using their own processes.

7.8 The responsible ICB team should also request that the authorised signatories in the existing ICBs (at the sub ICB location level) submit a request to NHS BSA in parallel. The relevant form can be found on the NHS BSA website.

7.9 In addition, the responsible ICB team should request the authorised signatories in the existing ICBs to email prescriptioninformation@nhs.net to inform NHS BSA of additions, deletions or changes to organisational and prescriber details for:

• NHS and private controlled drug (CD) pharmacy contractors
• private CD prescribers and health and justice services, including their prescribers.

7.10 Further information and the notification forms can be found on the NHS BSA website.

7.11 The responsible ICB team should ensure that Primary Care Support England (PCSE), which administers primary care on behalf of NHS England, is informed of any GP practice migrations via the PCSE portal (login required).

7.12 If there are any changes to the primary care networks (PCNs) associated with the GP practices being migrated, the responsible ICB team must complete and submit a PCN form on the National IT Customer Support Portal (login required) by 28 February for the change to take effect on 1 April that year. ODS will make any changes to any related PCNs for the GP practices being migrated.

7.13 The responsible ICB team will need to ensure that the governance handbooks of the ICBs are updated to reflect the move of the GP practices as the Organisation Reference Data (ORD) published by ODS needs to be aligned with that list.

7.14 The responsible ICB team should inform the national and regional analytical teams of the merger or split so that they can ensure that data collection systems are updated.

7.15 ODS will notify the Office for National Statistics (ONS) of the of the merger or split, confirming the boundaries of the new ICB for ONS to re-map these on the NHS Postcode Directory.

7.16 For the new ICBs to be established through merger, the responsible ICB team should confirm to ODS the new ICB partners (Trusts and Local Authorities), as per the ICB constitutions, by completing the ODS – General Enquiries and Requests form via the NHS National IT Customer Support Portal. Instructions for submitting requests can be found at the Organisation Data Service (ODS).

7.17 The existing ODS organisation contacts (OC1s) for each merging ICB should complete and submit an Organisation Code Request Form via the NHS National IT Customer Portal (login required) to inform ODS of the future closure of their existing ICB code (close date 1 April 2026 or 2027). Note this must be completed by an existing ICB OC1 contact.

7.18 ODS provides an ODS reconfiguration toolkit and ICB reconfiguration guidance. The reconfiguration guidance provides a list of key systems and services known to be impacted by ODS code changes and is sent with the ODS code to the regional director for digital transformation to be passed on to the ICB. Note: the reconfiguration guidance does not contain an exhaustive list of impacts. ICBs will need to consider fully their own uses for ODS codes. The responsible ICB team should ensure completion of key activities in relation to the ODS reconfiguration toolkit and the reconfiguration guidance.

7.19 The ODS reconfiguration toolkit actions include (but are not limited to):

• registering new ICB operational contacts (OC1s)
• registering new Caldicott Guardian, Senior Information Risk Owner and (where appropriate) Information Asset Owner contacts.

7.20 The reconfiguration guidance actions include (but are not limited to):

• undertaking a full assessment of how the ICBs use ODS codes
• contacting impacted systems and services to request that activity is either closed down or migrated to the appropriate successor ICB code, for example, NHS Smartcards and the Care Identity Service (CIS), NHSmail, e-Referral Service (e-RS), Health and Social Care Network (HSCN).

7.21 The ODS reconfiguration team will communicate the changes made to:

• the ODS technical and business analysis work areas
• the relevant ICB OC1
• all ODS newsletter subscribers
• the ODS distribution list for customers and service providers.

7.22 NHS Smartcards and the Care Identity Service (CIS) – any ICB due to be abolished will need to arrange the removal of any active user access and closing of positions. They will need to ensure required access is granted for users under new ICB codes.

7.23 Access must be granted under the new ICB codes before ICBs request removal of any active user access and closing of positions.

7.24 It is also important to recognise that while the migration of corporate users should be completed by the target date, it may not be practical to migrate Registration Authority (RA) ‘child organisation’ users at the same time. Furthermore, if the new ICB plans to have multiple RA providers, this may delay migration of RA child organisations. 

7.25 The RA manager for the new ICB should be appointed as early as possible and no later than one month after the new ICB is formally established.

7.26 Existing ICBs need to publicly advise on their website in advance of merger or abolition that information that has been held by them will be transferred to the new ICB(s) on 1 April 2026 or 2027 and that the new ICB(s) will then become the new data controller.

7.27 Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT) – existing ICBs should ensure that they complete and publish the DSPT using their current ODS code and DSPT registration before any merger or abolition takes place. If they do not publish by 31 March, the new ICB would need to publish on their behalf by 30 June that year.

7.28 If any published DSPT does not indicate ‘standards met’, the new ICB must submit an improvement plan covering actions to be undertaken by 31 December. The improvement plan may contain actions relating to pre-existing ICBs or the new ICB (or both).

7.29 Any new ICB will require a new DSPT registration code. In preparation for this, the new ICB should log a call with the helpdesk via nationalservicedesk@nhs.net to request their new ICB DSPT account to be set up

7.30 Additional information governance (IG) considerations – the IG section of the due diligence checklist will help to support a smooth transition, including the legal duties that need to transfer, such as responding to subject access requests.

8. Digital, data, informatics and information governance – changes to existing ICB boundaries

8.1 Boundary changes relate to the movement of Office for National Statistics (ONS) Lower Layer Super Output Areas (LSOAs) from 1 ICB to another. These changes will need to be reflected in the NHS Postcode Directory. If there are GP practice migrations with the boundary change, these should be implemented at the start of a financial year (in April). Note: there is a related but separate process and timescales for GP practice migrations (see paragraph 8.7).

8.2 The ICBs involved in the boundary change should decide between themselves which ICB will take responsibility for the digital implementation process to implement the change, except where indicated otherwise. The responsible ICB team should complete a Boundary Change Form via the NHS National IT Customer Support Portal (login required). Instructions for submitting your request can be found here on the Organisation Data Service (ODS) The responsible ICB team should also notify NHS England Data Services (nationaldataplatform@england.nhs.uk) so that reference tables and reporting can be updated.

8.3 The Boundary Change Form can only accommodate information about 2 ICBs; if there are more than 2 ICBs involved in the boundary change, additional forms must be submitted.

8.4 Upon submission, the responsible ICB team must confirm the following in the ODS ICB boundary change form:

• a copy of the approval of the proposed change – an extract of the NHS England Executive minutes, or the formal notification to the ICB chief executives
• the names and ODS codes of the 2 ICBs involved in the boundary change
• the ONS Lower Layer Super Output Areas (LSOAs) codes and names of those that are moving from the sending ICB to the receiving ICB. If required, ODS can provide LSOA codes and names within the current ICBs
• if moves are one-way (LSOAs are moving from 1 of the ICBs to the other) or two-way (LSOAs moving between the pair of ICBs)
• the current and new sub ICB location codes for the LSOAs that are moving
• if there are any GP practice migrations accompanying the boundary change
• if there are any pharmacy, ophthalmology or dentistry (POD) changes accompanying the boundary change.

8.5 The ODS will notify the ONS of the boundary change, confirming the boundaries of the new ICB for ONS to re-map these on the NHS Postcode Directory.

• ODS will publish the updated NHS Postcode Directory
• ODS will update any geographic relationships in Organisation Reference Data (ORD) affected by the boundary change
• ODS will publish the updated ORD.

8.6 The ODS reconfiguration team will then communicate the changes made to:

• the ODS technical and business analysis work areas
• the relevant operational contact in an ICB for ODS (OC1)
• all ODS newsletter subscribers
• the ODS distribution list for customers and service providers.

8.7 GP practice migration – a boundary change may be accompanied by the movement of GP practices. Changes to GP practices will be reflected in ORD published by ODS, based on data managed by NHS Business Services Authority (BSA). GP practice changes should be implemented on 1 April to coincide with the implementation of the ICB boundary change. Minor boundary changes will be reflected in the NHS Postcode Directory issued in May and, for major changes, ONS will be requested to issue a revised Directory by 1 April.

8.8 The responsible ICB team should complete the ODS GP Practice Moves Form via the NHS National IT Customer Support Portal (login required). This will include:

• a copy of the formal approval for the change
• the names and ODS codes of the GP practices that are moving
• the current and new ICB codes and names for these GP practices
• the current and new sub ICB location codes for these GP practices
• if there are primary care network (PCN) changes to follow
• if moves are 1-way (GP practices are moving from 1 of the ICBs to the other) or 2-way (GP practices moving between the pair of ICBs).

8.9 The ODS team will inform NHS BSA of the GP practice migrations. BSA will verify and confirm these changes using their own processes.

8.10 The responsible ICB team should also request that the authorised signatories in the ICBs (at the sub ICB location level) submit a request to NHS BSA in parallel. The relevant form can be found on the NHS BSA website.

8.11 In addition, the responsible ICB team should request the authorised signatories in the ICBs to email notification forms to nhsbsa.prescriptioninformation@nhs.net to inform NHS BSA of additions, deletions or changes to organisational and prescriber details for:

• NHS and private controlled drug (CD) pharmacy contractors
• private CD prescribers and health and justice services, including their prescribers

Further information and the notification forms can be found on the NHS BSA website.

8.12 GP practice migrations required must be submitted to ODS by 1 December for implementation to take effect on the following 1 April.

8.13 The responsible ICB team should ensure that Primary Care Support England (PCSE), which administers primary care on behalf of NHS England, is informed of any GP practice migrations via the PCSE portal (login required).

8.14 If there are any changes to the PCNs associated with the GP practices being migrated, the responsible ICB team should complete the Primary Care Network (PCN) Change of Instruction Request Form via the NHS National IT Customer Support Portal (login required). Instructions for submitting the request can be found at the Organisation Data Service (ODS).

8.15 The responsible ICB team will need to ensure that the governance handbooks of the ICBs are updated to reflect the move of the GP practices as the ORD published by ODS needs to be aligned with that list.

8.16 NHS Smartcards and the Care Identity Service (CIS) for GP practices being moved – the sending ICB will need to arrange the removal of any active user access and closing of positions. They will need to ensure required access is granted for users under new ICB codes.

8.17 Access must be granted under the new ICB codes before ICBs request removal of any active user access and closing of positions.

8.18 It is important to recognise that whilst the migration of corporate users should be completed by the target date, it may not be practical to migrate Registration Authority (RA) ‘child organisation’ users at the same time.

8.19 The responsible ICB team should inform the national and regional analytical teams of the boundary change and any GP practice migrations, so that they can ensure that data collection systems are updated.

8.20 Additional IG considerations – the IG section of the due diligence checklist will help to support a smooth transition.

Publications reference: PRN02136