There is nothing more important than our own and our family’s health. It’s why, as a country, we treasure the NHS and its dedicated staff. But vital though it is, the NHS only accounts for a fraction of our physical and mental health and wellbeing. All the rest depends on other things: genetics, our environment – whether we have decent work, enough money, close family and friends, a warm home, clean air – and our own lifestyles.
The development of our Integrated Care System is a unique opportunity to bring together the many different partners who support the health and wellbeing of Norfolk and Waveney’s almost 1.1 million residents: the staff and organisations working in the NHS and social care; local government with its responsibilities for public health, social care, housing, leisure and the environment; the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector; and many others in the public and private sectors.
Although we started working together well before the pandemic, the last two years has made our partnership broader, deeper and increasingly effective. Now we have a unique opportunity to build on what we’ve achieved, to tackle the shocking backlog of waiting lists left by the pandemic and to transform and integrate care around the needs of people, families and communities.
Our mission is simple: to help people lead longer, healthier, happier lives.