NHS Central East Integrated Care Board (ICB) was formed on 1 April 2026 and is the successor ICB to NHS Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes ICB, NHS Cambridgeshire & Peterborough ICB and the Hertfordshire part of NHS Hertfordshire and West Essex ICB. NHS Central East ICB had transferred to it the property, rights and liabilities of the predecessor organisations. The actions and decisions of the predecessor organisation, including relevant clinical commissioning policies, relevant prescribing decisions and recommendations and relevant clinical pathways continue in effect. There are differences in places between some clinical commissioning policies, prescribing recommendations and pathways, from the predecessor ICBs. 

Clinical policies transferred to NHS Central East ICB from each of the relevant predecessor ICBs remain applicable to each part of the population for who they were originally created. These different policies will continue to apply to the relevant populations unless or until any new policy is adopted by the NHS Central East ICB (after public involvement if required). 

We are in the process of developing a new NHS Central East ICB website for clinical commissioning policies, pathways and prescribing information. During this transition period, clinicians, providers, patients and the public can continue to access all legacy policies, prescribing recommendations, and pathways via the legacy ICB websites. Where legacy policies, are superseded by new NHS Central East ICB policies, this will be clearly indicated on the relevant legacy policy and published on the new Central East website in advance of implementation.   

If you have any questions or concerns do continue to contact your local teams at the following legacy ICBs:

NHS Hertfordshire and West Essex ICB                           

NHS Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes ICB       

NHS Cambridgeshire & Peterborough ICB         

The Clinical Policies Forum (CPF) reports to the NHS Cambridgeshire & Peterborough (ICB) Joint Clinical Professional Executive Group (JCPEG), which reports to the Quality, Performance and Finance Committee (QPF), which is accountable to NHS Cambridgeshire & Peterborough (ICB).  The policies contained within this site are formulated by the Clinical Policies Forum.  

A patient who may require an intervention that is covered by a CPF clinical policy should discuss this with their GP if they are concerned.

What does it do?

The CPF meets regularly to discuss issues that arise when trying to meet the health needs of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough within limited resources. The role of the CPF is to advise NHS Cambridgeshire & Peterborough (ICB) on the clinical effectiveness, cost effectiveness, appropriateness and relative priority of new and existing treatments/services. If a treatment is of unproven effectiveness, poor cost effectiveness or of low overall priority, the Forum considers under what circumstances the treatment should be available in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough under the National Health Service. 

Terms of Reference of the Clinical Policies Forum.

The process of priority setting by the CPF is designed to be open, transparent and consistent. It uses systematic methodology, an evidence-based approach and wider consultation within the process. 

Who is a member of the CPF?

The Forum is designed to be representative of the health community in the county, and includes representatives of primary care, secondary care, community care and users of the NHS.

  • John Boulter - Lay Member, North West Anglia (NWAFT)
  • Tanya Brigden - Ethicist Member
  • Elizabeth Clark - Lay Member
  • Sean Culloty - GP Member
  • Jayne Davies - Clinical Lead for MSK Specialist Services and Physiotherapy, Peterborough Locality/ Clinical Physiotherapy Specialist (Extended Scope Practitioner), Dynamic Health, Cambridgeshire Community Services
  • Justin Davies - Deputy Medical Director and Consultant Colorectal Surgeon, Cambridge University Hospitals
  • Lesley Deacon - Deputy Chief Nurse, Cambridgeshire & Peterborough (ICB)
  • Dr Nicola Deamer - GP and Associate Medical Director, Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Foundation Trust (CPFT)
  • Dr Christine Emerson - GP and Clinical Lead, Cambridgeshire & Peterborough (ICB) Locality
  • Mark Evans - Local Commissioning Group Manager, 
  • Dr Suzanne Hamilton - Deputy Medical Director, North West Anglia (NWAFT)/ Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist
  • Dr Richard Hodder - Lead Governor, Royal Papworth Hospital
  • Liz Hunt - Lay Member
  • Jonathan Jelley - Lay Member, Healthwatch
  • Dr Raj Lakshman - Consultant in Public Health Medicine, Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Local Authorities
  • Dr Kelvin Okoth - Senior Public Health Research Officer, Cambrigeshire & Peterborough Local Authorities
  • Dr Izibeya Otobo - GP Member
  • Dr Abby Richardson - Associate Director for Clinical Effectiveness & Efficiency, Cambridgeshire & Peterborough (ICB)
  • Dr Sati Ubhi - Director of Pharmacy and Medicines Optimisation, Cambridgeshire & Peterborough (ICB)

Supporting members:

  • Samuel Frankland - Public Health FY2, Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Local Authorities
  • Bryn Hilton - Public Health Registrar, Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Local Authorities
  • Natalia Robinson - Clinical Policy Forum Business Support Officer, Cambridgeshire & Peterborough (ICB)
  • Carla Taylor - Clinical Policies & Exceptional Cases Manager, Cambridgeshire & Peterborough (ICB)

The Forum meets bi-monthly - 2024 dates below.  New policies are developed when the need arises, either as a result of issues arising within NHS Cambridgeshire & Peterborough, a result of new evidence becoming available, or as a result of guidance from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE).  All policies are regularly reviewed and are revised to incorporate recent evidence as appropriate.

Would you like to be involved?

We currently have an opening for a Lay Member role from Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. If you are employed at the Trust and would like to represent the organisation's patient voice, please contact cpicb.clinpolicies@nhs.net for more information. 

Meetings scheduled for 2024 (all meetings start at 3pm and close at 5pm)

  • 9 January 2024
  • 5 March 2024
  • 2 May 2024
  • 2 July 2024
  • 4 September 2024
  • 7 November 2024

What if I don't agree with the policy or how it's been applied? 

Concerns regarding the content of policies should be raised initially with the appropriate representative on the CPF so that the issues can be raised at the next policy review. New issues that may need a new policy can be proposed to the CPF by clinicians or others for consideration by the Forum.

Appeals against the way in which a particular policy has been applied in an individual case should be directed initially to the NHS Cambridgeshire & Peterborough (ICB) Exceptional Cases Team. 

The team can be contacted on the following email address: cpicb.e-ifr@nhs.net

Further information on the Clinical Policies Forum and its polices are available from the Secretary of the Clinical Policies Forum, email  cpicb.clinpolicies@nhs.net