Following a robust process, NHS England and NHS Improvement has recommended, and the Secretary of State has agreed, that the Rt Hon Patricia Hewitt is the Chair-designate of the new NHS Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board (ICB), ready to take up the post from April 2022 should Parliament confirm the current plans.

Patricia, a former Secretary of State for Health, has been the Independent Chair of the Norfolk and Waveney Health and Care Partnership (ICS) for the last four years, and together with senior clinical and management colleagues, she has been instrumental in driving forward the partnership’s work.

In Stoptober’s 10th year, smokers across Norfolk and Waveney are encouraged to join the thousands of other smokers across the country who have made a quit attempt and successfully quit.

It comes after a recent nationwide survey of 2,000 current smokers found that nearly half (45%) have been smoking more since the first lockdown began. Key reasons reported were being bored in the lockdowns (43%) or the pandemic making them more anxious (42%). In addition, data from the monthly UCL Smoking Toolkit Study indicates a large increase in smoking among the under-35s since the coronavirus pandemic, up from 18% in 2019 to 24% now.

People in Norfolk and Waveney who have been affected by cancer during COVID-19 are being asked to have their say and share their experiences to help shape and transform future services.   

An NHS team working to improve cancer services across Norfolk and Waveney is keen to understand how patients feel about their care and to identify what has been working well and where improvements could be made.   

Health and care leaders in Norfolk and Waveney are encouraging the public to keep A&E free for serious emergencies only.

With pressure continuing to mount on local NHS services, the Norfolk and Waveney health and care system is asking the public not to just to turn up to A&E but to think NHS 111 first or visit their local pharmacy or contact their GP.