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# Health chiefs urged to hold more meetings in Staffordshire under NHS cluster arrangements
- URL: https://lichfieldlive.co.uk/health-chiefs-urged-to-hold-more-meetings-in-staffordshire-under-nhs-cluster-arrangements/
- Published: 2026-06-23T06:50:22.000Z
- Updated: 2026-06-23T06:50:21.000Z
- Author: David Tooley, Local Democracy Reporter
- Tags: Health, News

HEALTH commissioners have come under pressure to hold more meetings in Staffordshire under new NHS structures.

Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin makes up only 31% of a new Integrated Care Board (ICB) cluster arrangement’s population, with Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent at 69%.

But it plans to continue this year to split its joint board meetings 50-50 between NHS bases in Wellington and Stafford, with none in Stoke-on-Trent or anywhere else.

Health campaigner Ian Syme put leaders under pressure at a recent meeting of the joint cluster board.

He wrote:

> "The total ICB cluster population is approximately 1,705,000, of which 528,000 reside in Shropshire and around 1,177,000 reside in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.  
>  
> "Why does the ICB cluster see fit to split public board meetings 50-50 which is most certainly not a proportionate approach?"

Mr Syme asked his questions at a meeting in April 2026, with the board answering them at a later date and then publishing them online.

Cluster leaders replied that they "will continue to review this decision and will consider the points raised".

Officials added that residents can view proceedings without travelling by observing meetings on line.

They added:

> "We do recognise that not everyone is comfortable with, or has access to, the digital option and we will continue to be mindful of that."

The meeting locations are "not intended to be a mathematical proxy for population size or revenue allocation", they added.

They added that "avoiding venue hire is a deliberate decision" and they have "deliberately prioritised NHS/public sector estate where suitable facilities exist".

> "This is a practical application of the value for money principle – enabling transparency while minimising non-essential spend, so resources can be focused on patient care."