NHS seeks views on future of Suffolk community health services
The NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board has launched a major engagement exercise asking residents how £100 million worth of community health services should be delivered over the next decade.
Why it matters: The survey will shape how NHS community services are provided across Suffolk for the next ten years, affecting care for people of all ages from newborns to those at the end of life.
The details: NHS community services encompass a wide range of health and care support delivered closer to home and outside hospitals. The services cover the whole of Suffolk, excluding Waveney, and represent an investment of around £100 million per year.
They are delivered by a range of different types of health and care professionals and help link the services provided by GPs, hospitals and social care.
What they're asking: The ICB is asking people what community services have worked well and what would make them better. The survey has been co-produced by representatives of more than 45 community groups and voluntary sector organisations across Suffolk.
What they're saying: Su Conquer, Co-production Lead for the SNEE Integrated Care Partnership, said: "By engaging in this way, we can ensure local voices are at the heart of designing future services.
"Future NHS community services should prevent ill-health, be accessible, and promote wellbeing. We need your input to shape how these community services are delivered."
Anjali Sule, Integration Team Manager at Ipswich Community Media, said: "Every community member, no matter what their background, should participate in this project to give their views, which can help the NHS to improve their services in future.
"If we don't give our opinion, they will not know what kind of barriers we face when accessing services. It is our responsibility to support our NHS to improve in the future."
How to take part: Residents can take part via a range of accessible options, including an online form, voice-to-text 'easy read', paper copy, or by joining a conversation in their community.
The survey is also available in multiple languages and large print and is supported by British Sign Language and an 'easy read' animated video.
What's next: The group will review the submitted views to co-produce a set of principles that all future community services will be required to follow in their new contracts.
The bottom line: All feedback must be submitted by 17:00 on Sunday, 1 March 2026. To learn more and take part in the survey, visit www.letstalksnee.co.uk/help-shape-community-health-in-suffolk. To request hard copies of the survey or submit views directly, call 01473-770261 or email su.conquer@snee.nhs.uk.
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