NHS England’s strategic commissioning framework

Published last week

Here is the summary and timetable

Summary and next steps

ICBs are critical to the delivery of the NHS’s priorities. This framework sets out our expectations of commissioners, particularly ICBs, to adjust to the new legislative landscape and financial context and to ensure we are making the most of new opportunities – such as those from collaborative working with providers, system partners and other ICBs, and using modern data and analytics to support more proactive care.

We expect all ICBs to begin to adopt the strategic commissioning approach outlined in the framework as part of the NHS planning process for 2026/27. Table 1 below sets out key milestones.

A strategic commissioning development programme will be launched from April 2026 to support ICBs to develop as strategic commissioners as well as all those carrying out commissioning. As part of this we expect ICBs to carry out a baseline assessment against the strategic commissioning framework in March 2026. We plan to incorporate elements of the framework in the assessment of each ICB as a strategic commissioner that NHS England is required to undertake from the financial year 2026/27.

Table 1: Key milestones for the strategic commissioning approach