Cambridgeshire and Peterborough ICB

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough ICB’s journey began with a convergence of critical pressures. Its contract with the legacy system, Datix, was ending, forcing a decision on a new platform. At the same time, an internal audit had mandated that the organization move its complaints and PALS processes off vulnerable spreadsheets and onto a secure, robust electronic system.

Beyond these immediate drivers, the organization faced systemic challenges. Key governance functions like risk registers and contract management were scattered across the ICB in various formats, which prevented effective oversight and created inconsistencies. The existing system lacked modern reporting capabilities, turning tasks like the annual complaints report into a lengthy, manual exercise in Excel.

After a competitive framework process, Cambridge and Peterborough selected Ideagen Healthcare Guardian because it "came to the top of the pile" for its advanced functionality and strategic value. The reporting suite was seen as a "game changer," offering the power to automate reports that previously took days of manual effort

Another key factor was the direct integration with LFPSE, which would eliminate time-consuming manual uploads and reduce the risk of error. The platform’s flexibility also proved crucial, as it allowed the ICB to reconfigure standard apps for its unique commissioning use cases, such as adapting the Ideagen Healthcare Guardian policy app to manage its 1,200 contracts. This adaptability, combined with strong consultant support that helped turn skeptics into champions, provided the confidence that the system could meet the ICB’s distinct needs and strategic goals.

The ICB rolled out the system in a multi-phase program, centralizing its core governance functions into a single digital ecosystem.

Though still in its implementation journey, the ICB has already seen a profound impact on its operations and strategic capabilities. The benefits include:

Revolutionized reporting:

The efficiency gains have been dramatic. The annual PALS report, which previously required a long manual compilation in Excel, can now be generated in approximately 60 seconds.

Driving cultural change:

The system's usability has won over even the most resistant staff. A PALS team member who initially refused to use the system now runs a report every morning to manage their daily workload.

Streamlined operations:

Centralizing processes into a single digital front door has made investigations more streamlined. The direct LFPSE integration has eliminated a significant manual task, freeing up valuable staff time.

Foundation for strategic assurance:

The platform has laid the groundwork for the ICB’s ultimate goal: true system-wide oversight. The vision is to use triangulation to create 30-second reports that provide assurance across all provider trusts, transforming the ICB’s ability to govern effectively without overburdening busy trusts with information requests.

"Our complaints annual report, I did it manually on an Excel spreadsheet... and now on Healthcare Guardian I get it in about 60 seconds. It's revolutionized reporting." – Lesley Deacon, Deputy Chief Nurse.

As the ICB officially becomes part of a new, larger cluster, its focus is on scaling its success. The immediate goal is to complete the phased rollout of the remaining apps. The larger strategic ambition is to extend the Ideagen Healthcare Guardian platform into its primary care network, allowing GP practices to use the system for their own governance. This would provide the ICB with invaluable system-wide data and learning, powering the data triangulation needed to deliver on its vision of seamless, intelligent oversight for a population of over three million.

"If I can get my execs to agree, to get this out into our primary care will be absolutely amazing so they can start using it, we can start using the information, and the learning that we get from it to share across the whole of the new cluster." – Lesley Deacon, Deputy Chief Nurse.