Health bosses in Norfolk and Waveney have begun a strategic review of outreach health services, aimed at making sure services are fit for purpose ahead of contracts expiring in April 2027.

The review, presented to the Health Overview Select Committee on 19 March 2026, focuses on how the NHS reaches inclusion health populations — including homeless people, Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities, asylum seekers, and people in areas with high levels of deprivation. Rural and coastal communities are also in scope.

Tracey Williams from the Integrated Care Board (ICB) told councillors the review was at an early stage and that no decisions had been made. Extensive public engagement is planned for the summer, working with Healthwatch Norfolk and Suffolk and the Community Voices programme, which involves more than 50 voluntary sector organisations.

Councillors raised a number of concerns, including whether audit evidence existed to show that GP practices receiving Inclusion Health funding had delivered the required services, and whether the review would reach beyond the ICB's usual contacts to communities experiencing the deepest deprivation.

The Vice-Chair asked whether transport solutions might be more effective for rural residents than building new outreach models. Williams replied that the review was taking a neighbourhood and population health approach, and was open to a range of solutions.

The committee was assured that all current outreach services would continue unchanged until 1 April 2027, giving the ICB time to complete the review and run a procurement process. The strategic review is expected to conclude by October 2026.

Councillors agreed that a full report covering patient outcomes, follow-up rates and referral pathways across all strands of outreach services should be brought back to the committee later in 2026.