Cambridgeshire secures £600,000 to continue A&E support service

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 20 Oct, 05:02 · Archive

Cambridgeshire County Council has secured £609,552 to continue its High Impact Use service, which helps frequent A&E attendees with complex social and practical needs.

Cambridgeshire County Council has secured £609,552 through a new agreement with the NHS Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Integrated Care Board to continue the High Impact Use service into the 2027/28 financial year. The service helps people with complex needs reduce their A&E visits, targeting those whose frequent emergency department attendances are often linked to social, emotional or practical challenges rather than purely medical issues.

Launched in October 2024, the service has already demonstrated significant results. According to the ICB, health-related costs for an initial group of service users dropped from an average of £18,333 per person per year to £3,401 per person per year after receiving support.

Councillor Alison Whelan, chair of the council's communities, social mobility and inclusion committee, said the service demonstrates what is possible when organisations work together to support residents in a personalised and preventative way. She noted that many people supported by the service face complex challenges that cannot be resolved through healthcare interventions alone. Cambridgeshire County Council is the only local authority in the country to directly host such a service. The scheme has gained national recognition, including a visit from NHS England representatives and an Outstanding Achievement Award from North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust.

How it is being reported

• Funding secured to continue support for frequent A&E attendees in CambsMore than £600,000 in funding has been secured to continue a life-changing support service in Cambridgeshire.Cambs Times · 20 Oct, 04:00
• Funding secured to continue support for frequent A&E attendees in CambsMore than £600,000 in funding has been secured to continue a life-changing support service in Cambridgeshire.Ely Standard · 20 Oct, 04:00

In this story: Cambridgeshire County Council · NHS Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Integrated Care Board · Alison Whelan · NHS England · North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust · Cambridgeshire

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