Our service
We are the Health Improvement Practitioners at NCH&C. We support people who frequently need emergency services.
This service is funded by the Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board (ICB).
We work with patients referred from Emergency Departments (ED) at acute care hospitals in Norfolk, the East of England Ambulance Service, and other unplanned health and social care pathways.
How can we help?
We take a holistic approach, tailoring our support to each individual’s needs.
We can refer you to community nursing and therapy services, as well as third sector organisations and community groups for advice and support.
We work with other professionals and teams to ensure you have access to the care and support you need to meet ongoing, long-term, and changing needs.
We are non-clinical practitioners. Our role is not to stop you from accessing emergency services when needed, but to help you manage your health, social, and emotional wellbeing. We consider both your long-term and short-term needs in the community.
Who are we?
We are a small team. You will usually see the same person, so you can get to know each other well.
We work flexibly. We can meet you at a convenient location, talk over the phone, send text messages or emails, and, if needed, introduce you to local groups, services, and organisations.
Our working hours are Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm (excluding bank holidays).
Each member of our team has extensive experience working directly with people who often have complex physical, social, and emotional health needs.
Useful contacts
Dial 999 or go to A&E if you are seriously unwell, withdrawing, in crisis, suicidal, or in an overdose situation.
For general health or non-emergency care, contact your own GP or dial 111
First Response helpline
Dial 111 and select the mental health option (option 2)
Samaritans
Tel: 116 123
Email: jo@samaritans.org
NCH&C Single Point of Contact (SPOC)
Tel: 01603 518 444
Help with health costs
If you're referred to hospital or other NHS premises for specialist NHS treatment or diagnostic tests by a doctor, dentist or another primary care health professional, you may be able to claim a refund of reasonable travel costs under the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS). Find out more about the HTCS.
How to have your say
A guide for friends and family carers about ways to help us improve the experience of receiving care from our Service.
How to have your say leaflet