Milton Keynes, Bedfordshire and Luton formed a sustainability and transformation plan area in March 2016 with Pauline Philip, the Chief Executive of Luton and Dunstable University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, as its leader[1] The three CCGs shared a single clinical commissioning group chief officer and planned to set up a "fully operational" integrated care system but it was to continue in shadow form until 2019.
[2] In June 2018 the leaders of Milton Keynes, Luton and Bedford councils threatened to quit the partnership, saying it could not legitimately claim to be working towards an integrated system.
The partnership was then led by Richard Carr who was also chief executive of Central Bedfordshire Council, also in the STP, which did not sign the letter.
Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust, which runs community services in the area, complained that these proposals were "incredibly damaging", contrary to national policy, robust evidence, and professional opinion..."[6] In October 2017 plans were announced to deny surgery to smokers and obese people indefinitely unless the patients stopped smoking or lost substantial amounts of weight.
Ian Eardley of the Royal College of Surgeons said, "This goes against clinical guidance and leaves patients waiting long periods of time in pain and discomfort.
Contributing factors were said to be a difficult winter, increased hospital activity and a high number of expensive out of area placements for mental health service users.
In November 2017 East London NHS Foundation Trust won a £195 million five year contract to provide community health services in the county.
South Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust provided mental health services in the county until 1 April 2015.