Help shape healthcare services in Norfolk & Waveney

Hear from Executive Medical Director, Dr Frankie Swords

Executive Medical Director, Dr Frankie Swords asks local people to help shape the future of health services.

The NHS Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board (ICB), responsible for planning and purchasing healthcare services for the local population, faces significant financial challenges. With an annual budget of approximately £2.5 billion, the ICB strives to maximise the allocation of public funds towards frontline care. To achieve this, they aim to generate around £150 million in efficiencies this year through operational changes and service adjustments.

Despite these efforts, the ICB acknowledges the challenging financial landscape of the NHS, both locally and nationally. Factors contributing to this include recent high inflation, which has increased the cost of essential equipment and supplies. Furthermore, the increasing longevity of the population, while a positive development, leads to a greater prevalence of multiple health conditions, subsequently increasing the demand for NHS services. The ICB also recognises that other public services and the voluntary, community, and social enterprise sector are experiencing similar financial strains.

The ICB is committed to implementing cost-saving measures that do not compromise patient care. While they will prioritise efficiency improvements to protect existing services, the scale of the financial challenge necessitates changes to some services. Operating within a fixed budget, the ICB must ensure expenditures remain within allocated resources.

To address these financial pressures, the ICB has developed several options for the reallocation of public funds and is seeking public feedback. These options pertain to:

• The walk-in centre in Norwich
• The GP out of hours service covering Norfolk and Waveney.
• The Vulnerable Adults Service in Norwich.

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