The NHS Essex Integrated Care Board will officially launch on 1 April 2026 to manage how healthcare is planned and funded for residents in Southend-on-Sea, Essex. This new organisation replaces three existing health boards to simplify how the NHS works with local councils and charities across the county.
Residents can watch the first online meeting of the new board on 1 April 2026 from 10:10am to 10:45am. Anyone who wants to view the session must register their interest by 12-noon on 30 March 2026.
While the first meeting on 1 April 2026 will not include a time for public questions, a second session is being held on 23 April 2026 where people can ask about local health services. The new board will be responsible for the health needs of around 1.8 million people across the whole of Essex.
The new organisation will be led by Tom Abell, who previously managed health services in the mid and south areas of the region. This change is part of a national reform programme that is reducing the number of health boards in England to help them align with local authority borders.
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