Members of the public across Lancashire and South Cumbria are invited to observe the Integrated Care Board meeting on 27 July.

NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) was established on 1 July, replacing clinical commissioning groups (or CCGs), taking on the NHS planning functions previously held by CCGs, as well as absorbing some planning roles from NHS England.

The first formal business meeting of the board will take place on Wednesday 27 July, 9.30am to 12.30pm and is open for anyone to register to attend at the Health Innovation Campus at Lancaster University. The meeting will also be live streamed on YouTube.

David Flory, chair for NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB, said: “We are keen for members of the public to come and observe our formal board meetings to ensure that there is an open and transparent approach to decision-making in the NHS as we are a public body, and we are here to serve the communities of Lancashire and South Cumbria.

“As most people will be aware there are some complex challenges across the health and care system and there will be some key decisions that will need to be made over the next few years as the NHS develops under new legislation. It’s important that our residents are able to see how the decisions are made and understand the reasons behind them.”

The agenda, papers and minutes for ICB Board will be published on the website, where there is also information about how members of the public can request to observe the ICB Board and how to submit questions to the board relating to items on the agenda: https://www.lancashireandsouthcumbria.icb.nhs.uk/about-us/board.

The ICB is governed by a unitary board of executive, non-executive and partner organisation members, who meet to collectively ensure there are appropriate arrangements in place to carry out the ICB’s functions effectively, efficiently, economically and in accordance with the principles of good governance.