As we reach the end of another year, I want to start by saying a heartfelt thank you to colleagues across Norfolk, Suffolk and north east Essex. 2025 has been an exceptionally busy and challenging year for the NHS, and the weeks leading up to Christmas – alongside industrial action and winter pressures – have been particularly demanding. I know many of you are working right through the festive period, and I am hugely grateful for your commitment, professionalism and compassion for our patients and communities.

In this month’s blog, I wanted to focus on prevention and proactive care – because as we move through winter, reducing avoidable illness and anticipating need is one of the most powerful things we can do to support both our patients and our services.

Prevention in Action: Cardiovascular Disease and Hypertension

Cardiovascular disease remains the single biggest contributor to premature death and a major driver of health inequalities. One of the most important – and modifiable – risk factors is hypertension.

Nationally, around 30% of adults are estimated to have high blood pressure, yet only about half are diagnosed. Over the past 18 months, through a concerted effort across the East of England and in close partnership with public health colleagues, we have made extraordinary progress in finding people earlier and intervening sooner.

Across Norfolk and Waveney, the predicted prevalence of hypertension is around 263,000 people, with 186,690 now identified and coded. In Suffolk and North East Essex, an estimated 255,308 people are predicted to have hypertension, with 180,875 identified. That means across our two systems, we are now identifying around 70% of the expected population, and in total have found an additional 30,000 people in the last 18 months alone.

This is a huge achievement – and a testament to joint working, including our shared commitment to the NHS Health Check, which is one of the most effective ways to detect risk early, often before people have any symptoms at all.

As a result:

• 21.2% of the Norfolk and Waveney population and 20.7% of the SNEE population are now recorded as having hypertension – both well above the regional and national averages.
• Over 90% of people with hypertension in both systems have had their blood pressure monitored in the last 12 months, again significantly higher than the England benchmark.
• Most importantly, over 70% of people in both systems now have their blood pressure treated to target – the highest performance in the East of England.

This work is already preventing strokes, heart attacks and avoidable hospital admissions. There is more to do next year on atrial fibrillation, lipids and chronic kidney disease, but it is absolutely right to pause and recognise the impact of this work. Thank you to everyone involved.

Proactive Care: Supporting People Before Crisis

Alongside prevention, we are continuing to develop proactive care and care management models, delivered through neighbourhood teams.

In Great Yarmouth and Waveney and across Suffolk, work is underway to agree new models of support for people who are at high risk of needing emergency care, or who are frequent users of services such as emergency departments, mental health services, primary care and wider public services. These are often people with complex needs, where earlier, coordinated support can make a real difference – both to outcomes and to experience of care.

This is very much about anticipating need, working differently across organisations, and intervening earlier to help people stay well and independent.

Early Diagnosis: HIV Testing in Emergency Departments

Prevention is also about finding conditions early, when they are easiest to treat and before complications develop.

Earlier this month, the HIV Action Plan 2025–2030 was published, confirming continued national commitment to routine HIV testing in emergency departments, alongside viral hepatitis testing. I’m delighted that DHSC and NHS England have confirmed ongoing funding for the ED HIV testing programme that is already in place across our systems, with funding secured for a further three years.

This programme is a powerful example of proactive care in action – identifying infection early, reducing onward transmission, and preventing long-term harm.

Vaccinations: Prevention at Scale

Finally, some very good news on vaccinations – because prevention really is better than cure.

Across Norfolk and Waveney, more than 387,000 people have now received their flu vaccination. Overall uptake sits at 62%, placing us above the East of England average (55%), and above the national average (51%). Across Suffolk and north east Essex, 348,329 flu vaccinations have been administered, with 59% of eligible people taking up the offer which is up 1.22% on last year.

Uptake has been particularly strong among those most at risk and this level of coverage will undoubtedly be helping to reduce serious illness and hospital admissions, especially among older people and those with long-term conditions. Thank you to everyone involved in delivering and promoting the programme.

A Festive Thank You

As we head into the festive season, I want to end where I began – by saying thank you. Thank you for your dedication, your teamwork and your resilience. Thank you for the kindness and care you show to patients every day, often in very challenging circumstances.

I hope you are able to find some time to rest and recharge over the coming weeks, and to enjoy moments of calm and connection with family, friends and colleagues.

With very best wishes for a peaceful festive period and a healthy new year.

Warm regards,

Frankie