What happened on 1 April 2026?
A new NHS organisation was set up on 1 April 2026.
It is called the NHS Norfolk and Suffolk Integrated Care Board.
Many people call it N&S ICB.
What is an Integrated Care Board?
An Integrated Care Board is part of the NHS.
It:
- Plans NHS health services
- Decides how NHS money is spent
- Works with hospitals, GPs, councils, and charities
Its job is to help people live healthier lives.
What changed?
Two NHS organisations closed on 1 April 2026:
- NHS Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board
- NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board
They were replaced by one new NHS organisation.
This new organisation plans health services for:
- Norfolk and
- Suffolk
What happened in Essex?
Some health services in Essex moved to a different organisation.
These areas were:
- Colchester
- Tendring
They now come under NHS Essex Integrated Care Board.
Which areas does the new ICB cover?
The NHS Norfolk and Suffolk Integrated Care Board now covers:
- All of Norfolk
- All of Suffolk
About 1.7 million people live in these areas.
Who runs the new organisation?
The new organisation is led by:
- Professor William Pope – Chair
- Dr Ed Garratt – Chief Executive
They work with a group of people who help them to make important decisions. This group is called the ‘board’. They have experience working in:
- Hospitals
- GP services
- Community health
- Mental health
- Social care
- Charities and voluntary groups
What does this mean for you?
For most people:
- NHS services stayed the same
- People still see the same doctors and nurses
- The same hospitals and GP practices are used
This change was about planning services, not stopping care.
Why did this happen?
This change happened to help the NHS:
- Work more closely together
- Share skills and knowledge
- Use money more wisely
- Improve health and wellbeing
Working as one organisation will make this easier.
Meetings in public
The NHS Norfolk and Suffolk Integrated Care Board meets in public.
Its first meeting:
- Took place on 1 April 2026
- Was held online
- Was live streamed on YouTube
People can go to future meetings or watch them online.
Find out more
You can find more information on the NHS Norfolk and Suffolk ICB website.