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<p>The Health and Care Bill delivers on the National Health Service’s (NHS) own proposals
for reform in its 2019 Long Term Plan. The proposed legislation intends to build on
the excellent work that existing non-statutory Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) started
and bring together more closely the health and care partners across the country.</p><p>During
the development of the Health and Care Bill, we have closely engaged with more than
100 organisations representing all parts of the health and care system. This includes
engagement with patient representative organisations, whose contributions have been
invaluable to the development of the Bill.</p><p>In February 2021, we published the
Health and Care Bill White Paper on gov.uk, outlining the intentions of the proposed
legislation. In July 2021, we also published factsheets containing details on the
measures in the Bill, explaining why they are needed and what impact they will have.</p><p>We
recognise that patients and the public must be informed about the impact of placing
ICSs on a statutory footing. Last June, NHS England published an Integrated Care System
Design Framework. This set the expectation that each integrated care board would develop
a strategy for engaging with people and communities.</p><p>Following engagement with
hundreds of partners in the NHS and beyond, including local Government and members
of the public, NHS England issued more detailed guidance in September, subject to
Parliamentary passage of the Health and Care Bill, providing a set of principles and
practical advice for local areas to use when developing their plans, including engaging
with the public.</p>
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