Your local NHS is inviting residents to share their views on proposals to reduce differences in access to healthcare services across the Black Country.
In July 2022, a change in the law created the NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board (ICB). The ICB took over responsibility for local healthcare planning from the former Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) serving Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall, and Wolverhampton.
Since its establishment, the ICB has been reviewing its clinical policies to ensure they are consistent, evidence-based, and reflect the latest national guidelines and best practice. This includes:
- Reviewing the four existing CCG policies and bringing them together into one single, harmonised approach for the ICB
- Updating and implementing new policies to align with current clinical evidence and standards.
While most of the previous clinical policies were already similar, some differences existed. To make sure people have equal access to services wherever they live in the Black Country, the ICB is now reviewing several treatment policies to align them across all four areas.
Clinical experts have reviewed the latest national and local evidence to ensure that any proposed changes maintain a high-quality, safe, and fair local offer. The review of clinical policies will take place in stages.
A public involvement exercise is now open to gather views and feedback from local people and NHS staff. These comments will help inform final decisions. To find out more and share your views, visit the NHS Black Country ICB website and have your say by Friday 19 December 2025.
