File on 4 statement

Sharon Colclough, Serco Director of Community Services, said: "Over the last six months we have been undertaking major transformational change in line with the vision for Suffolk Community Healthcare.

"Our patient feedback continues to be excellent in our community hospitals and community teams. Our Friends and Family Test results show that 76% of all patients and carers would recommend us, compared with the national average of 64% across the whole of the NHS.

Julian Herbert, chief officer of Ipswich & East and West Suffolk Clinical Commissioning Groups, said: "This is year one of a three-year project. This was always going to be a massive transformation project. We as commissioners wanted to see better patient outcomes and a better way of working with local providers. On the whole, it has gone well with Serco, and yes, there have been some challenges, but I would expect nothing less in a long project with a new provider."