In March 2016, NHS England divided the geographical areas of England into 44 sustainability and transformation plan areas (or footprints) with populations between 300,000 and 3 million,  which would implement the Five Year Forward View.  These areas were locally agreed between NHS trusts, local authorities and clinical commissioning groups.  A leader was appointed for each area, to be responsible for the implementation of the plans which are to be agreed by the component organisations.  They were to “work across organisational boundaries to help build a

consensus for transformation and the practical steps to deliver it.