ONE Devon have received confirmation from NHS England and government ministers that its new ‘cluster’ – covering Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly – has been formally approved.

It comes as part of a national move to bring together Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) into 26 clusters across England, down from the current 42.

‘Clustering’ means that, although ICBs will continue to exist, authorities will work as one – with a single Board, leadership team and staffing structure.

This is ahead of a formal merger, which is expected from either April 2026 or April 2027, subject to local governance reorganisation and further guidance.

In the South West, the seven current ICB will transition into three clusters as follows: Devon and Cornwall and Isles of Scilly (two ICBs); Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG), and Gloucestershire (two ICBs) and Somerset, Dorset, and Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire (BSW) (three ICBs)

To support this change, One Devon will shortly begin the process to appoint a new Cluster Chairman and Chief Executive.

These roles will help lead the development of future operating models and ensure continuity and stability through this period of change, with appointments expected to be confirmed by the end of July.

Alongside this, work is also underway to develop One Devon’s structure and implementation plan in line with a national Model ICB Blueprint that was published in May.

The Blueprint outlines the core roles and functions that ICBs will be responsible for with a significantly reduced running costs budget – a 33% reduction for NHS Devon and 38% for NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly.

National work is also underway to clarify how the new NHS operating model will function, and we expect more information to be shared over the summer.

One Devon is a collaboration of the NHS and local councils, as well as a wide range of other organisations like the voluntary sector, who are working together to improve the lives of people in Devon.