AGM marks key milestone for the ICB ahead of cluster move with Devon
NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board (ICB) held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Tuesday 29 July 2025, welcoming members of the public, partners and stakeholders to the event at The Alverton in Truro.
The event marked a significant milestone in the ICB’s three-year journey, offering space to reflect on progress and look ahead as the organisation prepares to join a new cluster arrangement with NHS Devon ICB.
More than 100 attendees gathered to:
- Celebrate achievements across the past three years
- Look ahead to shared priorities and challenges in the new ICB cluster with NHS Devon
- Showcase inspiring work to improve health and wellbeing in local communities
The event revisited the ambition set out at the ICB’s first ‘True North’ event in July 2022:
“Judge us not by what we say, but what we do.”
Three years on, guests heard how that challenge had been met – through the creation of:
- 16 integrated neighbourhood teams, who are groups of health and care professionals who work together to support local communities, using population health data to shape and deliver coordinated care that keeps local people healthy and reduces the needs for hospital visits
- the invaluable impact of the award-winning Cornwall Community Health and Wellbeing Workers, a collaborative between the NHS and voluntary sector to tackle health inequalities by providing a package of personal health and wellbeing support to people who need it the most
- the promising progress of WorkWell Cornwall, supporting local people to stay in or return to work
The integrated neighbourhood teams, particularly in St Austell and Truro, were highlighted as powerful examples of how local strategic planning and delivery are already improving health outcomes.
Guests heard how ‘pain cafés’ (community-based support sessions) in St Austell helped a man who had been housebound for over ten years to regain confidence and mobility. In the same area, local GPs and hospital consultants have been working closely together to discuss the health needs of young people, enabling early intervention and helping many to avoid hospital admission altogether.
In Truro, the development of Truro Health Park has brought a range of physical and mental health professionals under one roof. This co-location has made it easier for staff to collaborate, reduced delays in care, and improved patient outcomes by enabling truly joined-up support.
These examples showed how place-based delivery and community engagement are key to transforming services, ensuring care is more proactive, accessible and centred around the real needs of people and families.
The event also celebrated the role of community hubs and the voluntary sector, including the Cornwall Community Gateway, in reaching people where they are – helping individuals to access services more easily, improve wellbeing and reduce isolation.
John Govett, Chair of NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly ICB said:
“It seems like only yesterday that we were joined together at the beginning of our journey as an ICB. The last three years have not been without their difficulties and we still have a long way to go, but it’s important to remember how far we have come, to consider what we have achieved as an integrated care system, and the impact we have had on the people we serve.”
Reflecting on the significance of the AGM, Chief Executive Kate Shields added:
“This was our last AGM ahead of clustering with NHS Devon ICB. It felt like an important moment to look back at what we’ve achieved, while also recognising the uncertainty and upheaval many colleagues are facing.
“I want to thank every member of our team for their professionalism and continued dedication to the people we serve in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. I also want to thank our Board for their insight, support and time in making our region progress towards Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly being a great place to be born, to live and thrive, and to grow old.
“It was also fantastic to hear real stories from the frontline – like how pain cafés in St Austell have transformed lives, and how co-located care in Truro is delivering better outcomes. These are powerful reminders of the impact of place-based delivery and integrated teams, working together for local people.”
The event highlighted local progress in line with NHS priorities, including:
- Shifting care from hospital to community through diagnostic centres, falls and right care cars, and hospital-at-home models
- Prioritising prevention with the rollout of integrated neighbourhood teams and community health and wellbeing workers
- Embracing digital transformation with shared care records and AI-supported patient care
The 2024/25 Annual Report and Accounts were formally approved at the AGM, marking the ICB’s third consecutive year of delivering a balanced budget.
The annual accounts provided assurance of financial responsibility and continued progress, which has led to £114m of inherited debt being written off.
The event also launched the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly ICB Reflections Prospectus – a digital look back at the journey, learning and legacy of the ICB since its formation in 2022.