Evolving healthcare

National context

The NHS faces profound challenges. Public satisfaction has reached historic lows, driven by long waits, difficulty accessing care, and pressure on emergency services. These pressures are compounded by rising demand, workforce shortages, and changing patient needs. To meet these challenges, major transformation is underway.

The Health and Care Act 2022 marked a major shift in how health and care services are provided by putting Integrated Care Systems into law. The NHS’s 10-Year Health Plan for England builds on this with its focus on ‘three shifts’: hospital to community, analogue to digital, and illness to prevention. At the same time, trusts must deliver these ‘shifts’ while managing budgets effectively.

Structural changes within NHS England, Integrated Care Boards, and national bodies are reshaping the health and care landscape. Within local government, devolution deals are giving councils greater influence over health and care planning, reinforcing the importance of partnership. This national direction aligns strongly with our vision and, with the once-in-a-generation opportunity to build a new hospital, we are well placed to reimagine how care is delivered.

Local context

The Trust fully supports Suffolk & North East Essex Integrated Care System’s (ICS) ‘Future Shift’ strategy to transform health and care by focusing on early intervention, prevention, and health inequalities. As active members of our ICS, we work closely with partners to improve health and care services for our communities.

The West Suffolk Alliance is one of three place-based alliances in our system and its purpose — to improve health through partnership — uses the ‘live well’ model to meet population needs. The Alliance has played a crucial role in developing our services, such as the integrated neighbourhood teams, as well as establishing new ways of working together for the benefit of our patients.

We also work closely with East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT), with the successful launch of the Essex and Suffolk Elective Orthopaedic Centre a symbol of our partnership approach.

While we have strong relationships to build on, to make the ‘Future Shift’ a reality, we must scale-up preventative care with our partners, shift care ‘closer to home’ where appropriate, and embrace technology.