Unplanned Rapid Response Night Sitting

The Rapid Response Service in Norfolk provides a timely, short term, multi disciplinary response to adults with urgent care and support needs arising outside of standard office hours, including evenings, nights, weekends and bank holidays. The service is designed to prevent unnecessary hospital admissions, facilitate early discharge, and maintain individuals safely and independently within their own homes or usual place of residence.

Operating across Norfolk, the service delivers urgent assessment, intervention and coordination of care for adults aged 18 and over who experience a sudden deterioration in health, functional ability, or social circumstances. The service works in close partnership with primary care, urgent and emergency care, ambulance services, acute trusts, adult social care, mental health services, and the voluntary sector to ensure a seamless and person centred response.

The Rapid Response Service supports the local system's ambition to deliver care closer to home, reduce avoidable hospital attendances and admissions, and improve outcomes for residents by providing responsive, high quality care at the point of need, particularly during periods when core services are limited. The value is not sufficient for it to be commercially viable if lotted and it would also increase contract management costs.

On 19 November 2025, the Minister of State for Local Government and Homelessness made a written statement [UIN HCWS1071] saying that three proposals for unitary local government in Norfolk had been received - these could entail the creation of one, two or three unitary councils. The Minister announced a consultation exercise, which ended on 11 January 2026.

The Minister stated that "once the consultations have concluded, the Government will assess the proposals against the criteria in the invitation and decide, subject to parliamentary approval, which, if any, proposals are to be implemented, with or without modification". The Government has confirmed that it is minded to create three unitary Councils, subject to parliamentary approval.

On 4 December 2025, the Secretary of State for Local Government made a written statement [UIN HCWS1128] stating that the government intends to establish a Mayoral Strategic Authority for Norfolk and Suffolk as soon as possible, and that it is minded to hold inaugural mayoral elections in May 2028. Should these processes lead to unitary local government in Norfolk and/or to the establishment of a Mayoral Strategic Authority covering Norfolk (i) the contract may be transferred, assigned or novated to any successor authority(ies) to the council, or to any joint body incorporating or formed by any such successor and/or to any Mayoral Strategic Authority; and/or (ii) the council or a successor authority or joint body may order services on behalf of other local authorities serving any area within Norfolk's current geographical boundaries.