The NHS Alliance responds to the publication of the National Oversight Framework
11 June 2026
David Williams says NHS leaders welcome the confirmation of how their organisations will be assessed and overseen in 2026/27.
Commenting on the publication of the NHS Oversight Framework, David Williams, deputy director of policy at The NHS Alliance, said:
"NHS leaders welcome the confirmation of how their organisations will be assessed and overseen in 2026/27, following uncertainty during the first two months of the year.
"The expansion of measures used to segment and rank mental health, community and ambulance trusts is particularly welcome. This responds directly to feedback from NHS leaders who saw the previous metrics as too narrow.
"While ICB leaders broadly support the reintroduction of oversight and segmentation, the confirmation that they will be ranked in league tables will be viewed with caution. The uneven impact of cuts and structural reorganisation could skew the results. The value of league tables for ICBs, particularly to the public, is not clear.
"The changes made to this year’s framework do not go far enough to reflect a complex, interdependent system where care pathways often span organisational boundaries. The continued focus on activity-based metrics and organisational rankings could undermine collaboration and wider goals like population health and the shift of care into the community.
"The NHS Alliance will continue working with members to shape improvements ahead of 2027/28."