Publications and Advice
In addition to the East of England Clinical Senate publications listed below, the National Clinical Senates Advice and Review Log provides access to all the reviews and recommendations published by the 8 Clinical Senates across England since their inception in 2013.
This includes a search function which can be used to find reviews based on one or more of the following:
- The Clinical Senate who undertook the work
- The type of work completed (e.g. clinical review or advice)
- The types of service e.g. ‘stroke’, ‘urgent and emergency care’, ‘acute reconfiguration'
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Reflections on Trauma-informed care from a patient perspective
May 2026
This report highlights an East of England Clinical Senate development day on trauma-informed care, bringing together Senate Council members, Integrated Care Boards and Healthwatch partners.
Facilitated by Psychological Services from Essex Partnership NHS Trust, the day showcased initiatives including the South East Essex Trauma Alliance and EPUT’s work to become a trauma-informed organisation. A key focus was the importance of lived experience, with insights shared by a Lived Experience Ambassador.
The session supported shared learning and strengthened collaboration across the region.
Review of Reviews - Workforce Recommendations
November 2025
The NHS workforce is its greatest asset — the foundation upon which safe, compassionate, and high-quality care depends. Yet, as the healthcare landscape continues to evolve, so too must the ways in which we plan, support, and empower our people. The publication of this Review of Reviews: Workforce Recommendations represents an important step in understanding not only what has been learned across the Clinical Senates over the past decade, but also how those lessons can shape a more sustainable and resilient future workforce.
Review of Reviews - Workforce Recommendation
Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board
December 2023
The Clinical Senate Council undertook an Independent Review of the local Clinical Governance and Assurance Processes relating to the Pre-Consultation Business Case for the Future Configuration of Intermediate Care and Stroke Rehabilitation Community Beds, the location of the freestanding Maternity Led Birthing Unit and the transfer of residual Ambulatory Services from the St Peter’s Hospital site in Maldon.
Joint Strategic Board - Cambridge Children's Hospital
December 2023
The Clinical Senate Council were asked to provide the Cambridge Children's Hospital Project Team with independent advice and feedback. The Senate Council was impressed with the proposed integrated model of care to co-locate children’s physical health and the Child and Adolescent Mental Health services in one place and create a much-needed Paediatric Centre of Excellence in the East of England.
Proactive Project - Virtual Ward Task and Finish Group Outcomes Report
December 2023
In response to an approach from the Regional Virtual Ward Team to support their work and following a presentation to Senate Council in June 2022, a Virtual Wards Task and Finish Group was established to bring together opinion from clinicians and experts by experience to develop a Virtual Wards checklist for consideration when undertaking Clinical Reviews.
Norfolk & Waveney ICS Clinical Strategy (2022-2027)
August 2022
The East of England Clinical Senate undertook a desktop Independent Clinical Review to provide early-stage advice and an objective appraisal of the Norfolk & Waveney ICS/ICB System Clinical Strategy, to be used in the further development of major transformational programmes of work.
Proactive Project - Health Inequalities Workshop Outcomes Report
June 2022
The East of England Clinical Senate invited clinicians from across the region to attend a workshop to learn about health inequalities from a national and regional perspective, the five key Core20PLUS5 (Adults) areas of health inequality, and how health inequalities can be improved in the East of England. This discussion forum was aimed at raising awareness, exchanging ideas and experiences to increase understanding of existing disparities, and to explore how healthcare could be targeted and delivered more effectively.
Mount Vernon Cancer Center Radiotherapy Reprovision
April 2022
The East of England and London Clinical Senates were delighted to support the Mount Vernon Cancer Centre (MVCC) with a Joint Independent Clinical Review of their proposals for radiotherapy reprovision.
The purpose of this clinical review was to consider the proposed reprovision of networked radiotherapy services from the current MVCC site to West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust (Watford) site, with an additional, networked radiotherapy service being provided either on the Lister Hospital site in Stevenage (East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust), or the Luton Hospital site (Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust).
Mid and South Essex Health and Care Partnership - Community Inpatient Beds
April 2022
The Clinical Senate supported Mid and South Essex Health and Care Partnership by providing independent clinical advice on their proposals for the future configuration of community inpatient beds resulting from the urgent service changes made in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The programme is focused on community beds and has three distinct strands: intermediate care, stroke rehabilitation and sub-acute frailty.
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
October 2021
The Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust asked the East of England Clinical Senate to undertake an early stage review of its proposals for a change in vascular hub location within Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. The Panel made several recommendations for the Trust to consider as they move to further development and implement the proposal.
Mount Vernon Cancer Centre
June 2021
The Clinical Senate undertook an Independent Clinical Review of a proposal for a revised clinical model for Mount Vernon Cancer Centre Services with reprovision on an acute hospital site.
Proactive Projects - The Regional COVID-19 Pandemic Response and System Learning
December 2020
Ethical Considerations
Clinical Senate Council, together with regional experts, considered the ethical considerations for the transfer of both critically ill emergency care pathway patients and patients needing urgent elective treatment, from one hospital or one region to another for treatment.
Suffolk Mental Health Alliance - Mental Health and Wellbeing Services in East & West Suffolk
November 2020
The East of England Clinical Senate undertook a review for the Suffolk Mental Health Alliance in December 2019 on its high-level proposals for mental health and emotional wellbeing services in East and West Suffolk. (Please see the Clinical Senate’s 2019 Review Panel Report for detailed background.)
Since the 2019 review, the Alliance has developed its proposals for service changes and sought a further review from Clinical Senate on the more advanced and detailed proposals.
West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust
September 2020
The Clinical Senate was asked to review the West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust plans for investment in their estate; recognising the potentially detrimental impact on the delivery of safe, effective, responsive and efficient care resulting from the existing environment and three-site model (Watford General Hospital, St Albans City Hospital and Hemel Hempstead Hospital).
Proactive Projects - The Regional COVID-19 Pandemic Response and System Learning
July 2020
'Adopt, Adapt, Abandon' Report
Clinical Senate Council reflected on "What have we learned about how health care can be delivered during the last twelve weeks?"
Suffolk Mental Health Alliance - Mental Health and Wellbeing Services in East & West Suffolk
December 2019
The Clinical Senate supported the Suffolk Mental Health Alliance in the early phase of their development of plans for mental health services for East and West Suffolk with an independent clinical review panel.
The Alliance is made up of NHS Trusts, Community Services, Primary Care, Clinical Commissioning Groups, Social Care services, Third Sector providers, Charities, and patient and community support groups.
East Suffolk & North Essex NHS Foundation Trust
September 2019
The East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust requested a review of its proposals to improve patient pathways and develop a single Elective Orthopaedic Care Centre.
Mid & South Essex STP
December 2018
December 2018 - Emergency General Surgery The proposals for emergency general surgery, focussing on those elements delivered in full or in part at Basildon Hospital.
MSE Independent Report December 2018
April 2018 - Acute Services (incl. General Surgery follow-up review panel May 2018) Mid and South Essex STP refined its proposals for reconfiguration of acute hospital services to improve care for people in mid and south Essex. The scope of this clinical review panel was on acute reconfiguration, which included: urgent and emergency care; vascular services; general surgery; trauma & orthopaedic surgery; respiratory services; cardiology services; urology; gynaecology surgery and renal medicine.
The Princess Alexandra Hospital Trust
November 2018
The East of England Clinical Senate was approached by Princess Alexandra Hospital Trust to undertake a review for proposals for an out of hospital model as part of new build hospital proposals on the Princess Alexandra Hospital site in Harlow.
Please note that publication of the Senate's Report has been long-delayed and the Trust's early stage plans have developed significantly in the interim.
Herts Valley Clinical Commissioning Group
May 2018
The Clinical Senate undertook a retrospective review of the actions taken by Herts Valley Clinical Commissioning Group, following some concerns from the local acute Trust and some GPs in respect of the community 24-hour Electrocardiogram and Echocardiogram service.
Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust (CHUFT) & The Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust (IHT)
November 2017
Review of the Outline Business Case for the Partnership between Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust and The Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust.
United Lincolnshire Hospital NHS Trust
November 2017
The Clinical Senate was approached by NHS England on behalf of NHS Improvement to undertake a safety review of proposals by the United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust to re-open the Accident and Emergency Department at Grantham and District Hospital, 24 hours seven days a week.
Mid & South Essex STP
October 2017
October 2017 - In the September review, some concerns were expressed over the STP’s proposals for stroke services. The panel concluded that although it supported the proposal to establish a single Hyper Acute Stroke Unit, it needed more evidence regarding it's propsals for Acute Stroke services.
Mid & South Essex STP Report October 2017
September 2017 - The Mid and South Essex Sustainability and Transformation Partnership (STP) has undertaken a great deal of work, to develop its plans to improve services for the population it serves. The Clinical Senate has seen its plans at two previous stages of development and recognises the stakeholder input that has led to a modification of the STP’s proposal. The case for change is strong and the panel agreed that a ‘do nothing’ option was not viable. The panel was supportive of the principles put forward underpinning the programme of change.
Addressing the Obesity Challenge in the East of England
March 2017
A Public Health England report prepared for the East of England Clinical Senate Assembly meeting - 15 March 2017.
PHE East of England and the Clinical Senate play a critical role in addressing this challenge. Through our data and intelligence, and careful review of local health systems’ pathways and plans in the East of England, we have identified obesity as a major driver of health care demand now and in the future. We therefore strongly felt that ‘Addressing the Obesity Challenge’ should be the main theme of this year’s Clinical Senate Assembly. The Assembly offers us a great opportunity to come together to learn, share, collaborate and innovate.
Addressing the Obesity Challenge in the East of England Report
South Essex & North Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trusts
February 2017
The Clinical Senate was asked to provide independent clinical advice regarding the key supporting principles and the early stages of the development of transformed patient pathways, services and service delivery for the new proposed single mental health provider. At the time of our independent clinical review panel the two main Trusts delivering Mental Health Services in Essex, South Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust and North Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust were at an advanced stage of working towards a possible merger.
Interventional Radiology in the East of England - The role of Networks
January 2017
The East of England Clinical Senate was asked in August 2015 by the East of England Medical Directors Forum Chair, Dr Jag Ahluwalia, if it could assist in progressing the issue of Interventional Radiology service provision.
It was agreed that a working group be established which was tasked in the first instance to determine the variation in provision across the region, how this compared with best practice and national guidance and to develop some high level recommendations.
Peterborough & Stamford Hospitals Foundation Trust and Hinchingbrooke Health Care Trust
October 2016
Independent clinical review of the clinical proposals described within the full business case for the proposed merger between Peterborough and Stamford Hospital Foundation Trust and Hinchingbrooke Health Care Trust.
Peterborough & Stamford Hospitals and Hinchingbrooke Health Care Trust Report
Mid and South Essex Success Regime (MSESR)
October 2016
The Essex Success Regime is one of three such programmes in the country. The Success Regime is part of the Five Year Forward View, the blueprint for the NHS to take decisive steps to secure high quality, joined up care.
October 2016 - Review of acute reconfiguration options only, including a) Emergency medicine, b) Elective surgery, c) Paediatrics and d) Women’s services.
Mid & South Essex Report October 2016
June 2016 - The panel reviewed proposals for Urgent and Emergency Care, Women’s services, Paediatrics and Elective and Emergency Surgery, recognising that, in addition, there were strong interdependencies between acute clinical reconfiguration and other initiatives in the overall programme, particularly the Frailty pathway.
NHS England Midlands and East Specialised Commissioning
July 2016
Proposal for the siting of Positron Emission Tomography – Computed Tomography in South Essex and the clinical case for change.
Readiness of NHS Acute Trusts to deliver Standard 8 of the National Seven Day Services…
November 2015
This project was delivered by the East of England Clinical Senate and Public Health England working in collaboration with NHS Acute Trusts. The focus was on Standard Eight, which by definition is more relevant to secondary care. The most significant improvements in patient care will require enhanced delivery against all ten standards with primary care, community services, mental health services and ambulance service working in collaboration.
West Hertfordshire Health and Care System (Herts Valley CCG)
July 2015
Your Care, Your Future, Working together for a Healthier West Herts. The clinical review panel looked at the early outline proposal for the provision of sustainable health and social care in West Hertfordshire, in the context of the Five Year Forward View.
NHS England Midlands and East Specialised Commissioning
May 2015
Report of the clinical review panel on proposals for Paediatric Rheumatology services in the East of England.
Great Yarmouth and Waveney CCG ‘Shape of the System’
March 2015
The Clinical Senate was approached by the Great Yarmouth and Waveney Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) to provide independent clinical advice on whether elements of its case for change will safely deliver improved clinical benefits. Specifically looking at the CCG’s plans for community hubs and out of hospital teams across the Great Yarmouth and Waveney area. Alongside this the panel was asked to look at plans to redesign urgent care services for the area.