NHS England’s March 2026 Board papers include new Directions on the collection and analysis of data relating to delegated direct commissioning functions.

The Directions cover information from relevant health and care bodies about services commissioned by integrated care boards where NHS England direct commissioning functions have been delegated.

Key Developments

NHS England’s March 2026 Board agenda included the Summary of Delegation of NHS England Direct Commissioning Functions Evaluation and Monitoring of Services Directions 2026.

The Directions require NHS England to collect and analyse information from relevant health and care bodies about services commissioned by integrated care boards, where direct commissioning functions have been delegated to ICBs.

The Board paper states that NHS England remains responsible for ensuring that health services commissioned by ICBs are safe, effective, delivering value for money and reducing health inequalities. It also states that NHS England retains overall accountability for the discharge of delegated functions and requires assurance from ICBs that these functions are being discharged safely and effectively.

The Directions establish a framework for data collection and analysis, with separate requirements specifications to be used for specific datasets. The initial two requirements specifications relate to community pharmacy clinical services and dental and orthodontic activity.

The community pharmacy clinical services data collection relates to services including Pharmacy First and the Blood Pressure Check Service. The information collected is expected to include details about patient consultations, reasons for visits, medicines prescribed and referrals to other NHS services, including general practice, NHS 111 or accident and emergency services.

The dental and orthodontic activity data collection relates to NHS dental and orthodontic care, including information about the type of dental treatment received by patients.

The paper states that NHS England will use the information to monitor national and local service performance, understand patient pathways and care outcomes, support population health management, enable benchmarking, inform decision-making and target inefficiencies.

Why It Matters

The Directions place delegated commissioning within a stronger data and assurance framework. They indicate that local responsibility for delegated services will be supported by national data collection, performance monitoring and benchmarking.

The initial focus on community pharmacy clinical services and dental and orthodontic activity is relevant to wider NHS service planning because these services sit outside the acute hospital setting but contribute to access, prevention, population health and patient pathways.

The Directions also align with wider Board-level themes in the March 2026 papers, including performance oversight, productivity, value for money, health inequalities and data-led accountability. NHS England’s Integrated Performance Report includes detailed performance data across access, workforce, patient safety, experience, effectiveness and inequalities, while the Strategy Committee papers reference productivity, payment reform and neighbourhood health services.

For ICBs and providers, the Directions show that delegated services will need to be supported by accurate data, clear assurance and an ability to evidence service performance, patient impact and value.

Source References

• NHS England, Summary of Delegation of NHS England Direct Commissioning Functions Evaluation and Monitoring of Services Directions 2026, March 2026.
• NHS England, Meeting of the Board of NHS England – agenda, 26 March 2026.
• NHS England, Integrated Performance Report, March 2026.
• NHS England, Board Committee updates – NHS England Strategy Committee, March 2026.