Extra funds for team reducing avoidable A&E visits

A team aiming to reduce non-emergency A&E visits has secured more than £600,000 in funding.

The High Impact Use team (HIU) in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough helps residents access the right support while minimising their visits to hospital.

Cambridgeshire County Council, which operates the scheme, said HIU had cut visits by at least 40%.

It added that the £609,552 would see the team continue its work in 2027-28.

The scheme launched in October 2024. It works with people on a one-to-one basis to try to understand their specific needs and to decide what services to direct them to.

The NHS Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Integrated Care Board previously said many regular A&E visitors had been experiencing loneliness, financial problems or poor physical and mental health, rather than medical urgencies.

Alison Whelan, chair of the communities, social mobility and inclusion committee at the county council, added: "Many of the people supported by the service face complex challenges that cannot be resolved through healthcare interventions alone.

"By helping residents access the right support at the right time, we can improve outcomes for individuals, helping them live independently and create stronger ties, while also reducing demand on our hospitals and emergency services."

Do you have a story suggestion for Cambridgeshire? Contact us below.

Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.