We welcome the clear references to local priorities within NHS England guidance for ICSs and DHSC’s proposed shared outcomes framework. We hope that, in the years to come, this focus on local priorities will be maintained. However, we share the NAO’s concern about the tension between local needs-based strategies and a national standardised service. Experience shows that locally determined priorities may become the poorer relation to priorities driven nationally.

We welcome the clear references to local priorities within NHS England guidance for ICSs and DHSC’s proposed shared outcomes framework. We hope that, in the years to come, this focus on local priorities will be maintained. However, we share the NAO’s concern about the tension between local needs-based strategies and a national standardised service. Experience shows that locally determined priorities may become the poorer relation to priorities driven nationally. Type: conclusion | Number: 4 | Paragraph: 27 | Response status: under_consideration Government response: An effective health and care system is able to respond to both national and local priorities for improving services and outcomes; and progress in delivering those priorities will need to be measured and accounted for. The framework created by the Health and Care Act 2022 provides for the Secretary o