We’ve merged and we pledge our continued support in our region’s fight against coronavirus

The three clinical commissioning groups of Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire are set to formally merge as a single organisation, in a move that aims to maintain and enhance the health and wellbeing of local people, particularly in light of the current coronavirus pandemic.

Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board, the official name of the new organisation, will formally be established on Wednesday 1 April after more than 18 months of joined-up, cross-boundary working by the three separate ICBs.

Introducing the new ICB, which will serve a combined population of 934,000, Tracey Cox, Chief Executive, said: “For some time, our teams working across Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire have being working more closely together and this has enabled us, in collaboration with our health and social care partners, local authorities and voluntary sector colleagues, to start to implement a strategic and cohesive local response to the unprecedented coronavirus challenge.

“By formally merging, we can take this one step further and use our collective strength to become more efficient in how we plan and deliver local healthcare, both now and in the future.

“Of course, we had never expected our new joined-up approach to be tested so significantly so early on in our organisation’s history, but, while our focus right now is on providing leadership and practical on-the-ground support to tackling the coronavirus, we are mindful that these difficult times will make us all the more resilient in our ongoing work towards giving each and every person in our area a healthcare system they can be proud of and have faith in.”

The new ICB will maintain its roots in local communities and will continue to be driven by local clinicians from the 94 practices across Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire.

Dr Andrew Girdher, a GP from Box Surgery in Corsham, takes on the role of Clinical Chair for BSW ICB, while Dr Ruth Grabham, a GP based in Bath and North East Somerset, becomes Medical Director.

The two lead clinicians will be supported in their Governing Body roles by a range of GPs, practice nurses and other healthcare professionals from across the region, all with a unique knowledge of their specific geographical area.

• BSW ICB is responsible for planning and buying health and care services for the people of Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire.
• The organisation serves a population of 934,000 people and has an annual budget of £1.3 billion.
• By April 2021, BSW ICB will have led the way in establishing a region-wide Integrated Care System, in line with expectations set out in the NHS Long Term Plan.
• Operating at scale across Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire means strategically commissioning services and reducing variation in care so everyone receives high quality treatment, regardless of where they live.