Terms of reference

The Independent Reconfiguration Panel (IRP) is an advisory non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department of Health and Social Care.

The role of the IRP is to provide independent advice to the government on matters relating to reconfigurations and changes to NHS services in England.

The IRP will:

  • advise ministers on the use of the call in power under schedule 10A of the NHS Act 2006
  • provide formal advice to ministers about called in reconfiguration proposals
  • provide formal advice to ministers on proposals referred prior to 31 January 2024 under the Local Authority (Public Health, Health and Wellbeing Boards and Health Scrutiny Regulations) 2013
  • consider any other issues referred to the IRP by ministers as appropriate

When providing advice, the IRP will have regard to the duties for the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, NHS England and integrated care boards, including but not limited to:

  • the NHS Constitution
  • the quality, safety and effectiveness of services
  • the need to reduce health inequalities
  • the integration of services with other health-related or social care services
  • the extent to which NHS organisations have involved or consulted with the public and local authority health overview and scrutiny committees in the development of a reconfiguration proposal

The IRP’s role is advisory and decisions on NHS reconfigurations will remain a matter for ministers. The advice offered will be independent of government and will be published for transparency.

The IRP will ensure that any recommendation to ministers for use of the call in power is separate to any future advice on the substantive issues of a reconfiguration proposal.

The government expects that, wherever possible, disagreements are resolved locally without recourse to ministers. To assist this, the IRP will also offer informal advice on reconfiguration issues to NHS organisations, local authorities and other interested parties upon request.