Norfolk’s three acute hospitals are to explore being led by a single Chair and Chief Executive.

The three hospitals, which together form the Norfolk and Waveney Acute Hospital Collaborative (NWAHC), are looking at the possibilities of transitioning to the group model of operation from April 2025.

The model will see the formation of a Group Board to lead policy and strategic decision making but each hospital will continue to maintain its own Board, Council of Governors and legal autonomy and be responsible for operational decisions.

In the longer term the new model will improve patient care and outcomes by increasing the speed and effectiveness of decision making within the hospital system. There would be no immediate changes for patients or their care at any of the three hospitals and no staff would be affected other than those at executive level.

At their respective meetings in November, the Boards of all three acute hospitals considered an outline Case for Change proposal and on the basis of this agreed to explore moving towards a group model.

In a joint statement the Chairs of all three Trusts said:

“A group model would strengthen the power of our collaboration, enabling us to optimise efficiency across our three hospitals while at the same time improving patient care and outcomes.

“It would enable us to share our resources more effectively meaning we could tackle the large-scale challenges we face with a single unified approach. At the same time, we will be able to continue our focus on healthcare that meets the specific needs of our local communities.”

Tracey Bleakley, Chief Executive of NHS Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board, added:

“The move towards a group model is an exciting step forward for our local healthcare system. By streamlining decision-making and strengthening collaboration, this change will help us to reduce variation in care, improve health outcomes, and make better use of resources. Most importantly, it will enable us to deliver more consistent, high-quality care for patients across Norfolk and Waveney.”

There are four key areas which the group model would help deliver.

• Delivering New Models of Care, with more people cared for in the community and an increased use of technology and innovation.
• The rapid delivery of Norfolk’s two new hospitals.
• Ensuring services are sustainable and that unwarranted variation in outcomes is eliminated across our hospitals.
• Easing the Trusts’ financial challenges.

A finalised Case for Change is expected to be brought before all three Boards and Governors in January 2025, which will then need approval from NHS England to ensure all appropriate planning and safeguards are in place for any change to happen.   The intention is to begin implementing a group model with a single Chair and Chief Executive from 1 April 2025, but the timing of this will depend on the Trusts ability to satisfy any requirements from NHS England.