NHS Suffolk

NHS Suffolk is the primary care trust for the county of Suffolk (excluding Waveney) and cares for a population of 585,000. Formed in 2006 from the amalgamation of four predecessor primary care trusts, NHS Suffolk received £642m in 2007-8 to plan and buy (commission) all the healthcare for the people in its area. NHS Suffolk is responsible to the De... partment of Health through the East of England Strategic Health Authority and its actions and performance are monitored by democratically elected members of Suffolk local authorities who sit on the Suffolk Health Scrutiny Committee. NHS Suffolk aims to improve health and wellbeing, works with local authorities and other partners to reduce health inequalities and helps to develop sustainable communities. Each year NHS Suffolk agrees a plan to determine the amount of money that will be spent of each of the services in the NHS Network. The Local Delivery Plan is informed by the views of local people and healthcare professionals from inside and outside the primary care trust. NHS Suffolk commissions (buys) primary healthcare from: 69 GP practices; 88 pharmacies; 82 dental practices; and 122 optician practices. Private sector suppliers provide minor injuries services, out of hours GPs and community outpatient services; care homes, rehabilitation and respite centres, continuing care beds; and voluntary sector providers. NHS Suffolk also commissions services from its provider arm that is now an Arms Length Trading Organisation (ALTO), Suffolk Community Healthcare. Services commissioned from Suffolk Community Healthcare include the management of community hospitals, district nursing, health visiting, school nursing and specialist children's services, community dentistry, podiatry and a range of other specialist services. NHS Suffolk is responsible for regulating primary care practitioners, holding providers such as GPs, to account through the commissioning and contracting process. Secondary care and specialist services like surgical operations, acute in-patient care and ...Read More