Around 50 ICB staff left in limbo as compulsory redundancies await NHS England approval

Around 50 NHS staff facing compulsory redundancy have been left waiting for almost two months for NHS England to approve their departures.

The Black Country and Birmingham and Solihull integrated care board cluster submitted business cases covering around 50 compulsory redundancies to NHS England in early July, but a decision is not expected before the end of August, according to Health Service Journal.

The affected staff were told in June that they had not secured roles as part of the restructuring process but are still waiting for final approval of their departures.

The delays come as integrated care boards continue major reductions in their running costs. NHS England instructed ICBs to cut their running costs by 50%, triggering significant workforce reductions across the health service.

Voluntary redundancy schemes were approved previously, and most employees taking voluntary terms within the Black Country and Birmingham and Solihull cluster have already left. A final group of voluntary departures is still expected.

However, the compulsory redundancy process requires further approval, leaving affected employees uncertain about when they will leave and the financial arrangements surrounding their exits.

One manager told HSJ that colleagues were concerned about their finances because of the uncertainty surrounding their employment and redundancy packages, while concerns were also raised about the lack of clarity over NHS England’s approval timescales.

Other ICBs are also moving towards compulsory redundancies after completing voluntary redundancy programmes, meaning further cases could require approval as the wider NHS restructuring continues.

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