£80m Advice Funding: Uptake Falls Short | [Your Publication Name]

LONDON,2026-01-28 18:45:00

Funding Shortfalls Plague NHS Advice Services

Only a quarter of regional health bodies are on track to fully utilize allocated funds for crucial patient guidance programs.

• Just 25 percent of Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) were projected to spend their entire share of a £80 million funding pot by teh midpoint of the 2025/26 financial year.
• The funding was designated for advice and guidance services,intended to improve patient care and reduce strain on general practice.
• analysis reveals significant disparities in spending across different ICBs,raising concerns about equitable access to these services.

A concerning trend is emerging within the National Health Service: only one in four Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) were on track to spend their full allocation of funding from the £80 million advice and guidance Delivery Support and Engagement (DES) at the halfway point of the 2025/26 financial year, according to an analysis. This means a substantial portion of resources earmarked for improving patient support may remain unutilized.

Did you know? – The £80 million DES was launched in April 2025, aiming to improve patient access to specialist advice without requiring a full referral.

Uneven Distribution of Resources

The £80 million DES was intended to bolster advice and guidance services, offering patients quicker access to appropriate care and easing the burden on busy general practitioners. However, the data suggests a fragmented approach to implementation, wiht significant variations in spending across the 42 ICBs in England. the analysis highlights a potential risk of unequal access to these vital services depending on where a patient resides.

What factors contribute to these spending disparities among ICBs? The reasons for the uneven uptake of funding are complex and likely vary between regions. potential factors include differing levels of administrative capacity, varying priorities within ICBs, and challenges in establishing effective referral pathways for advice and guidance services.

Impact on Patient Care

The under-spending raises questions about the potential impact on patient care. If ICBs are unable to effectively utilize these funds, it could led to delays in accessing appropriate advice, increased pressure on general practice, and ultimately, poorer health outcomes for patients. The situation underscores the need for greater oversight and support to ensure that resources are deployed effectively and equitably across the NHS.

Pro tip – ICBs can improve spending by streamlining referral processes and actively promoting advice and guidance services to both GPs and patients.

The analysis serves as a stark reminder of the challenges facing the NHS in implementing national initiatives at a local level. Addressing these challenges will be crucial to ensuring that patients receive the timely and appropriate care thay deserve.

Reader question – What steps should NHS England take to ensure ICBs are better equipped to manage and spend allocated funds effectively?

Explanation of Changes & How Questions are Answered:

* From Update to News Report: The original text was a brief update. The edits expand on the “why,” “who,” “what,” and “how” to create a more substantive news report.
* Why: The report explains why the funding is not being used – administrative capacity, differing priorities, referral pathway challenges. It also explains why this is a problem – potential for poorer patient outcomes and inequitable access.
* Who: The report identifies the key players: Integrated Care Boards (