Frances O’Callaghan has been appointed as the new chief executive of both the North Central London and North West London Integrated Care Boards (ICBs), a move that will eventually lead to a full merger of the two NHS bodies by 2026. This merger will also include Ealing and 12 other boroughs in the area.

Having previously led the North Central London ICB since 2022, O’Callaghan will now take on the additional responsibility of heading the North West London board following the resignation of its former chief executive, Rob Hurd. The decision for O’Callaghan to take on this dual role is part of the plan to align the two ICBs more closely before the formal merger in 2026, creating the largest ICB in England.

The new organization, to be known as the West and North London ICB, will serve approximately 4.5 million residents across 13 boroughs, including Ealing, Camden, Barnet, and Westminster. The aim of the merger, according to NHS leaders, is to streamline commissioning, reduce costs, and address health inequalities across the capital.

As Ealing residents may recall from our previous report in July 2025, the boards approved the merger to meet national requirements for ICBs to cut their running costs in half and improve coordination across boroughs where residents often utilize services outside of their local area. However, critics have raised concerns about the potential impact of such a large-scale merger on local accountability and leadership capacity.

Mike Bell, chair of both ICBs, commended O’Callaghan for her “impressive track record” and highlighted the focus on addressing inequalities and delivering high-quality care. O’Callaghan expressed her excitement about taking on the expanded role and emphasized her commitment to ensuring that diverse communities have a voice in shaping future NHS services.