NHS England publishes its Integrated Care Board Strategic Commissioning Framework

NHS England has published a Strategic Commissioning Framework, which aims to support all Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) to adopt a strategic commissioning approach from April 2026.

The document sets out the principles of strategic commissioning, clarifies expectations of ICBs as the commissioners of most NHS services, and situates the approach within the emerging NHS operating model and the ambitions of the 10‑year NHS health plan.