We manage an annual budget of £4.9 billion to commission services which are safe, high quality and accessible for the 1.7 million people who live here.
Commissioning means planning and funding health services based on the needs of local communities.
We work with hospitals, GP practices, dentists, pharmacies, community and mental health services, ambulance services, local councils, and voluntary and community organisations to improve health and care for local people.
We involve local people and communities in shaping our decisions, drawing on their experiences and insights to improve services.
As a statutory NHS organisation, we are accountable to NHS England and the UK Government.
What we do
Our role is to make sure NHS services meet the needs of our population, now and in the future. We do this by:
- Setting the NHS strategy for Norfolk and Suffolk
- Deciding how NHS funding is spent locally
- Making sure services meet national quality and safety standards
- Improving access to care
- Reducing health inequalities
- Working with partners to deliver more joined-up services
Our area
Norfolk and Suffolk are home to around 1.7 million people.
Our region includes:
- Large rural and coastal communities
- An older-than-average population
- Areas facing significant deprivation
Around half of residents live in rural or coastal areas, where access to services can be more challenging. Approximately 219,000 people live in the 20% most deprived communities nationally. In these areas, early deaths are around 70% higher than in the least deprived areas.
These differences shape how we plan services and highlight why reducing inequality is central to our work.
Our vision
Our vision is for people in Norfolk and Suffolk to live longer, healthier and happier lives, with access to safe, joined-up, patient-centred care.
Our work is guided by three main outcomes:
- Improving healthy life expectancy
- Reducing health inequalities
- Improving access to consistently high-quality services
This includes tackling the causes of poor health, supporting prevention, and ensuring everyone can access care fairly — regardless of where they live or their background.
How we work
We believe health and care work best when decisions are made close to the communities they affect.
We organise our work through five local “Places”:
- West Norfolk
- Great Yarmouth and Waveney
- Central Norfolk
- West Suffolk
- Ipswich and East Suffolk
In each Place, local organisations work together in partnerships, known as Alliances, to improve services for their communities.
We also work closely with:
- NHS providers
- Local authorities
- The voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) sector
- Independent partners
- Patients, carers and local communities
By working together, we can design services that reflect local needs, reduce inequalities and strengthen neighbourhood-based care.
Our Constitution
Our Constitution explains how we operate as a statutory NHS organisation. It sets out:
- How decisions are made
- The role of our Board and committees
- How we manage public money
- How we involve people and communities
It ensures we work transparently, lawfully and in the best interests of the people we serve.
Read our full Constitution