The plan for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough covers hospital services, community healthcare, mental health, social care and GP services, and builds on the interim summary published in July.

Led by local clinicians, the STP has been developed by all local NHS organisations, local government officers and through discussion with staff and patients. It aims to provide the solutions to the county’s challenges to deliver the best possible care to keep the population fit for the future and to take joint responsibility for improving their health and wellbeing.

The plan and proposals address the issues highlighted in our Evidence for Change (March 2016). The four main reasons why changes are needed in the local health and care system are:

• Local needs are growing and changing and demand on our services is increasing
• The current system does not meet the standard of care we aspire to
• Recruiting and retaining staff is difficult across the area
• The system’s financial challenge is significant and growing.

David Astley OBE, Independent Chair for the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Sustainability and Transformation Programme, said: “We are sharing our Sustainability and Transformation Plan which outlines how we are working together, as one system, to deliver the changes needed to meet the needs of patients and improve the care we provide.

“As our delivery plans take shape we will continue to engage with staff, service users and carers to share our proposed solutions, the possible impacts on services, and how they can give their views. For any major changes we will ensure that the views of patients and local people shape key decisions, including formal consultation.”

Dr Alex Gimson, Consultant Physician and Hepatologist at Addenbrooke’s Hospital and clinical lead for the Sustainability and Transformation Plan, said: “The plan enables our organisations to address the significant changes needed to manage the demand on our services, and to bring them up to the highest standards.

“This will be delivered by clinicians working together through networks for planned, unplanned and specialised care. Where services are provided from more than one site, we will use our specialised skills and expertise collectively to raise quality everywhere.”

Tracy Dowling, Accountable Officer for the STP and Chief Officer, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “We are already working together and have signed a Memorandum of Understanding as a demonstration of our commitment to share budgets, deliver our agreed clinical services and ensure that our health and care services are clinically and financially sustainable, making the best use of money allocated to us.

“Due to the high levels of acute hospital activity, and resulting deteriorating financial position in our system, we are looking at ways to accelerate the pace of change and focus early investment on the areas that will have greatest impact on reducing hospital activity levels.

“Our priorities are to increase the amount of care delivered closer to home and to keep people well in their communities.”

Dr Gary Howsam, Clinical Chair, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group, and GP Partner at New Queen Street Surgery, Whittlesey and Stanground Surgery, said: “The plan will support GPs across the county to manage the demand on their services, share best practice, work together and to provide enhanced primary and community care that our local people need, and to encourage and support people to maintain their own health and wellbeing.”

The proposals will be further developed over the next few months, and there will be opportunities for staff, patients and other stakeholders to be involved in developing the solutions and to be involved with any formal consultation process.

The following documents are available to read HERE:

• Full Sustainability and Transformation Plan
• STP summary document
• Updated Frequently Asked Questions

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