UnitingCare Partnership

UnitingCare Partnership was a partnership established by Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust and Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust as a limited liability partnership to manage an £800m integrated older people's services contract in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.^[1] In December 2015 the contract was terminated, as it was agreed by both parties that it was not financially viable. However it appeared that the new model of care would continue without the financial incentives built into the contract.^[2] The National Audit Office undertook an investigation into the collapse of the contract, which was published in July 2016. Their verdict was that the contract "failed for financial reasons which could, and should, have been foreseen".^[3]

In vitro fertilisation

In 2017 the CCG decided to suspend NHS-funded in vitro fertilisation (IVF) fertility services indefinitely. Suspending the service saved the CCG £598,000 in 2018/19.^[7][8] The Department of Health and Social Care said the decision not to fund IVF was "not acceptable". The CCG was facing a deficit of £192 million and was expected to make savings of £33 million in 2019/20.^[9] In July 2021, the CCG decided to reinstate the service, providing one cycle of IVF to women under the age of 40.^[8]

Primary care

As of July 2021^[update], there are 85 GP practices in the area.^[10]

Community services

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust and Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust provide community care services in the county.

There are three hospices in Cambridgeshire:

• Arthur Rank Hospice, Cambridge, run by Arthur Rank Hospice Charity^[11]
• Thorpe Hall Hospice, Peterborough, run by Sue Ryder^[12]
• Milton Children's Hospice, Milton, run by East Anglia's Children's Hospices^[13]

Acute care

Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust and Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust are the NHS hospital trusts in the area. Plans are approved for the development of Cambridge Children's Hospital, which is a collaboration between Cambridge University Hospitals, the University of Cambridge and the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust. Building work is due to start in 2023 and the hospital is earmarked for completion in 2025.^[14]

In March 2018 Cambridgeshire County Council announced an exploratory deal with CareRooms which would involve low acuity self funding patients. Homeowners would be paid £50 a night to accommodate patients leaving hospital and the company would provide any necessary equipment.^[15] Each placement would have biometric monitoring and instant access to a video GP service. The hosts would have to go through a vetting and training process. If care - above a room and meals - is required it would be provided by a regulated care provider.^[16] Chief executive Paul Gaudin claimed the environment would be much safer than the current facilities that patients are often discharged into. Chairwoman of the council committee Anna Bailey states they 'have not committed to piloting CareRooms, but we think the innovative concept is interesting and worth exploring...We would like to give CareRooms the space to explore its concept.^{[citation needed]}

Ambulance services

Ambulance services are provided by the East of England Ambulance Service and Magpas.^{[citation needed]}

Mental health

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust is the main NHS provider.^{[citation needed]}