Approximately 400 non-clinical staff across two major NHS bodies serving Gloucestershire, Bristol, and part of Somerset are set to lose their jobs following a drastic government-ordered spending cut.
Integrated Care Boards (ICBs), which replaced clinical commissioning groups in 2022, have been instructed by NHS England to slash their operational costs by 50% within two months. These boards are responsible for assessing local population health needs and commissioning necessary NHS services.
The Bristol, North Somerset, and South Gloucestershire ICB (BNSSG) manages £3.2 billion in NHS spending. While this budget remains untouched, the ICB’s own administrative spending of £33 million is targeted for reduction.
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Shane Devlin, Chief Executive of BNSSG ICB, expressed concern: “Why would we reduce the £33 million budget if it risks harming £3.2 billion worth of essential services? We must find a delicate balance.”
Devlin explained the challenge of making significant cuts without causing substantial negative consequences, stating, “Reducing the ICB’s cost by a few million could trigger consequences worth £20-30 million, which we want to avoid.”
Speaking at a joint meeting of the health overview and scrutiny committees from Bristol City Council, North Somerset Council, and South Gloucestershire Council held on May 22 at Bristol City Hall, Devlin warned that achieving a 50% spending cut would inevitably lead to staff reductions from the organisation’s 450 employees.
At the same time, NHS England is transforming the role of ICBs into “strategic commissioners,” tasked with crafting population health strategies, commissioning services accordingly, and evaluating their impact. Devlin warned, “You cannot implement new responsibilities after slashing half your organisation’s capacity.”
To manage these pressures, BNSSG ICB is considering merging with Gloucestershire ICB to streamline operations and preserve the ability to function as a strategic commissioner. However, Devlin cautioned that such a merger would likely result in approximately 400 redundancies across both organisations out of 800 staff—an enormous blow to employees, their families, and the wider NHS workforce.
“We feel devastated by what we are being asked to do,” he admitted.
This latest 50% cut follows a prior 30% reduction imposed on ICBs in 2023. According to meeting documents, BNSSG was advised to identify £12.6 million in savings.
Bristol City Councillor Tim Wye, chairing the joint meeting, acknowledged the human toll: “We all recognize and sympathize with the significant impact this will have locally, with many people facing job losses.”
BNSSG ICB is required to submit its cost-cutting plan to NHS England by 10 a.m. on Tuesday and must achieve the reductions by the end of the third quarter, with the strategic commissioner role fully operational by April 1, 2026.