Cornwall Council leader condemns planned NHS merger with Devon

Leigh Frost, leader of Cornwall Council, has formally objected to the Government’s plan to merge the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board (ICB) with the Devon ICB. The merger, scheduled for April 2027, would combine the two counties’ health‑service budgets as NHS England reduces the total number of ICBs from 42 to 26. Frost argues the move is “outrageous” and risks diverting Cornwall’s funds to a Devon ICB that is currently in deficit, potentially reducing money for local services such as hospitals, mental health, urgent care and NHS 111.

The two ICBs already operate under a “cluster” model with shared leadership, but the full statutory merger would create a single budget and governance structure. Frost warned that while back‑office functions could be shared, the spending priorities must remain sovereign to protect Cornish residents’ health provision.