NHS Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board (the ICB) plans and buys healthcare services for the local population. We spend about £2.5 billion of public money on health services every year in Norfolk and Waveney.
We always want to make sure that as much of our budget as possible is spent on frontline care, so we are always looking at ways we can improve people’s health and work more efficiently. This year we expect to make about £150m of efficiencies by changing how we work and what we do.
However, despite this, the financial position of the NHS is very challenging, both locally and nationally. There are a range of factors that are affecting our finances. These include: The recent period of higher inflation which has made the equipment and supplies we buy more expensive.
It is great that people are living longer and we all welcome that, however, as we age, people are more likely to have more than one health condition and so naturally need more treatment from the NHS. We know that other public services and the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector are facing similar challenges with their finances too.
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There are changes we can and will make to save money that will not impact on the care people receive. We will do everything we can to make efficiencies in order to protect services. However, given the scale of the challenge, we are going to have to make savings, and this will mean making changes to some services. Ultimately, we have a budget and we cannot spend more than that.
You can find out more at the drop-in session on Wednesday 21 May, 12 noon-2pm, Blybergate Hall, Beccles
