The Cambridgeshire Learning Disability Partnership (LDP), a collaboration that integrates health and social care for adults over 18, faces termination at the end of this month due to a financial dispute. The LDP, organized into five teams across Cambridge city, Cambridge south, Ely, March, and Huntingdon, aims to "help people with learning disabilities in Cambridgeshire have as independent, healthy and safe life as possible." However, a disagreement over funding between Cambridgeshire County Council and local NHS authorities threatens its continuation.
Richard Howitt, chair of the Cambridgeshire County Council's adults and health committee, disclosed that the local NHS owed the authority £10 million. He warned that cuts to healthcare services might ensue if the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Integrated Care Board (ICB) does not resolve the financial impasse. Mr. Howitt noted that, "The partnership, which provides an integrated service to people with learning disabilities by both health and social care in Cambridgeshire, will become separate services again."
The county council currently provides the majority of funding for the LDP, supporting services such as supported accommodation, respite care, daycare, and direct payments to carers. An ICB spokesperson assured that assessments of health needs would continue to be conducted by adequately trained health staff. The spokesperson emphasized, "Our priority is the ongoing provision of care for service users to meet their individual healthcare needs and ensuring a smooth transition for service users and their families and carers."
Mr. Howitt expressed concerns over the lack of communication regarding future arrangements. "We are three weeks away from a major change and the health service has no information given to service users, or to us, as their partners, about who is going to do the assessments and how the decisions are going to be made about people's care," he stated. He predicted that service withdrawals could occur on a case-by-case basis, further deepening uncertainty for both service users and LDP staff.
The LDP was established in 2002 as a joint initiative between the county council and the ICB, pooling resources to deliver specialized healthcare and social services. Despite the current financial dispute, the ICB maintained that its focus remains on ensuring appropriate funding for healthcare needs rather than cost-cutting measures.
