In an exclusive interview with this newspaper Dr Wendy Thomson, managing director of Norfolk County Council, also dispelled fears about hospital closures, but non-emergency hospital services may be moved to free up the backlog of people waiting for treatment.
Her comments are published today – the same day that the plan, known as the Sustainability and Transformation Plan (ST), is sent to NHS England for approval.
What is the STP?
Norfolk and Waveney’s health chiefs are drawing up the STP to change the way NHS services are provided.
This is because future forecasts suggest the region’s NHS faces a £440m budget deficit by 2020.
To stop this STP leaders want to keep patients out of hospitals by expanding community health and GP services – and save around £160m from doing so.