History of West Norfolk Health
West Norfolk Health was started in 2006 as a very different organisation to what we see today. The company was formed to be prepared to consider taking on future NHS service opportunities that may arise.
In 2011, the first contract that was taken on was Community Cardiology, which has now developed into the 24 Hour ECG Service. Shortly after this the company employed the West Norfolk Choose and Book Team (now E-Referrals) when a referral Management Service was introduced to West Norfolk, which has subsequently become the Referral Support Service.
West Norfolk Health played a key role in supporting the establishment and development of Primary Care Networks (PCNs) across West Norfolk. This included the employment and administration of Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS) staff, the provision of management accounts, and the coordination of the Improved Access service.
As the PCNs have matured and become fully established, responsibility for these functions has now been successfully transferred to the respective Primary Care Networks, enabling them to manage and deliver these services independently while continuing to support the healthcare needs of their local populations.
Following the pandemic, the team relocated to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King's Lynn, where they continue to work closely alongside hospital staff to support patient care.
The 24-hour ECG service has continued to grow, with additional hubs established at GP practices across West Norfolk, making the service more accessible to local patients.
The company takes pride in its rapid turnaround times, ensuring that 24-hour ECG appointments are booked, completed, and analysed efficiently. By delivering the service through GP practices closer to patients' homes, the team provides a convenient, high-quality diagnostic service while reducing the need for unnecessary travel.
Our staff continue to provide valuable support to local GP practices through the management of e-Referrals. Having team members with extensive knowledge and experience of the service, including those who were involved in the initial implementation of Choose and Book when it was first introduced in Norfolk, has proven invaluable to our practices.
This expertise enables West Norfolk Health to offer informed guidance, maintain efficient referral processes, and support practices in navigating the evolving NHS referral landscape. The continuity of knowledge and experience within the team helps ensure patients are referred promptly and appropriately, contributing to improved patient care and practice efficiency.
