News
Retirement and redundancy payments to ICB chief executive ‘grossly unfair’ say RCN
The RCN demands answers to allegations that the ICB chief executive for South Yorkshire took retirement and also received redundancy payments
Connect with us:
Responding to revelations that the chief executive of the South Yorkshire integrated care board (ICB) had chosen to take retirement and also received redundancy payments, RCN Yorkshire and the Humber Regional Director Sarah Dodsworth said:
“If this is true, then it is grossly unfair. The ICB and NHS England have some serious questions to answer.
“Thousands of RCN members have been incredibly anxious and worried not knowing when the changes would formally take place, not having clarity on future roles and structures, whether they would be made redundant or even if redundancy payments could be funded."
The government announced plans to cut and merge ICBs last year alongside a decision to abolish NHS England. However there were delays following disagreements securing Treasury funding for the estimated £1 billion costs leading to significant uncertainty for ICB staff.
The former chief executive of South Yorkshire ICB, who retired in October 2025, is understood to have received around £300,000 in exit payments. According to the HSJ (8 January 2026), this included the maximum NHS redundancy payout of £160,000, along with several months’ salary in lieu of notice, bringing the total to approximately £300,000.
Sarah Dodsworth continued:
“The whole process has been a mess and it seems like there are very different rules for ICB leaders and their staff.
“Our members feel angry, frustrated and incredibly let down by the ICB. Unsurprisingly, morale has hit rock bottom.
“Equally worrying, the impact that ICB redundancies could have on the healthcare system has really not been recognised by the government.
“It reflects a complete lack of understanding of the work expert registered nurses do, from public health programmes and overseeing care programmes for the vulnerable, to connecting the NHS and social care services with one another.”
The South Yorkshire ICB is expected to continue with its own chief executive, unlike many others that are clustering with neighbours.
More information on the changes to NHS England and ICBs along with advice and information for RCN members employed by both can be found here.
