HSJ Health Check The secret plan for ICBs, and other restructure woes
Feb 6, 2026
Mimi Launder, a health policy journalist on NHS structures, and Jo Talora, a digital transformation reporter, dissect a leaked update to the model ICB blueprint. They explore the NHSE-DHSC merger timetable. They unpack Ming Tang's sudden exit, the fate and rollout struggles of the Federated Data Platform, and the staffing and operational pressures on integrated care boards.
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FDP Is Ming Tang's Lasting Mark
- Ming Tang's defining legacy is the Federated Data Platform (FDP) and its push to centralise NHS data.
- The FTP became controversial as it shifted from optional to effectively mandatory, exposing tensions between national and local tech choices.
Centre Push Sparks Local Resistance
- Centralising the FDP alienated some local tech leads who felt innovations were being dismissed or forced aside.
- Jo highlights Greater Manchester's refusal to sign up as evidence of growing centre-local friction over imposed solutions.
Consolidate Tech Leadership Quickly
- Expect tech leadership to be consolidated rather than replaced one-for-one after departures.
- Watch for the Director General for Tech role to absorb responsibilities and provide transitional continuity.