A sharp rise in flu, Covid and norovirus cases has pushed East Suffolk and North Essex Trust, which runs Ipswich Hospital, to near capacity, with 97% of beds now occupied. Healthcare leaders warn this could be the most challenging winter in NHS history.
Why it matters: The unprecedented occupancy rates at East Suffolk and North Essex Trust, which runs Ipswich Hospital, signal mounting pressure on local healthcare services just as winter begins. The situation mirrors a national crisis that healthcare leaders say could worsen.
By the numbers:
97% of beds at the trust were occupied the week before last
This is up from 94% the same time last year
The trust had an average of 1,211 occupied beds daily in the week to 1 December
A sharp rise in flu, Covid and norovirus cases has pushed East Suffolk and North Essex Trust, which runs Ipswich Hospital, to near capacity, with 97% of beds now occupiedOliver Rouane-WilliamsIpswich.co.uk
The big picture: NHS England data shows hospitals across the country are experiencing similar pressures. Around 95% of hospital beds in England are currently occupied – the highest figure ever recorded at this point in the year.
What they're saying: "There is barely a spare bed in our NHS, with sky-high flu admissions and thousands stuck in hospital unable to be discharged due to a lack of capacity in social care," says Patricia Marquis, executive director for England at the Royal College of Nursing.
Driving the news: Healthcare leaders are warning of a "quad-demic" – a combination of rising hospital admissions for:
Flu (up sharply from 221 to 1,098 patients nationally compared to 2023)
Covid-19
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
Norovirus (cases up 86% year-on-year)
What's next: Professor Susan Hopkins, chief medical adviser at the UK Health Security Agency, says there's still time to "change the trajectory" before Christmas but warns more people need to come forward for their flu vaccines.
The bottom line: With winter only just beginning and multiple infectious diseases on the rise, Ipswich Hospital faces significant challenges ahead. Health leaders say vaccine uptake could be crucial in determining how severe the winter crisis becomes.
As March's B Corp Month celebrations unfold, we shine a spotlight on the growing community of Suffolk-based businesses committed to using business as a force for good.
In the heart of Suffolk, a quiet revolution is taking place. Local businesses are increasingly choosing to balance profit with purpose through B Corp certification – a rigorous assessment that verifies companies are meeting high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability.
Beyond profit: what makes a B Corp?
Unlike traditional businesses focused primarily on profit, B Corps legally commit to consider the impact of their decisions on workers, customers, suppliers, community, and the environment.
"We wanted to be able to outwardly demonstrate that our business is not solely driven by profit," explains Colin Low, founder of Kingsfleet, independent financial planners based in Claydon near Ipswich who achieved certification in May 2022.
The Kingsfleet team outside their offices in Claydon, near IpswichCherry BeesleySimply C Photography
"Whilst it is important that we are profitable, it is of equal value that we provide excellent benefits to our staff, support our local community and avoid harm to people and planet."
The certification process itself is far from easy. Companies must complete a comprehensive B Impact Assessment covering governance, workers, community, environment, and customers. Only those scoring at least 80 out of 200 points qualify – and the median score for ordinary businesses is just 50.9.
Suffolk's B Corp pioneers
Suffolk is now home to 22 certified B Corps spanning diverse sectors from financial services to renewable energy, property consultancy to international freight.
Among the earliest Suffolk adopters was Brink, an innovation practice focused on social impact and international development, certified since February 2020. Their work with over 300 innovators worldwide includes improving education in sub-Saharan Africa and increasing access to oxygen and vaccines in developing countries.
Insight Energy, based in Woolverstone just outside Ipswich, is one of Suffolk's newest B Corps, certified in September 2024 with an impressive impact score of 103.8 – well above the 80-point threshold.
"Our decision to pursue B Corp certification comes from our deep-rooted commitment to sustainability and ethical business practices," says co-founder Kristian Day. "It felt like a natural step to solidify our dedication to creating positive change for both the environment and the communities we serve."
The Insight Energy team outside their office in WoolverstoneInsight Energy
Established by Day and Gary Gibson, two fathers united by concern for their children's future, Insight Energy specialises in solar PV, battery storage, and electric vehicle charging installations across Suffolk and the UK.
"We believe that profit and purpose go hand in hand," Day continues. "As a renewable energy company, our success is tied to creating solutions that benefit both the planet and people. This balance has influenced every decision, from investing in innovative technologies to ensuring our operations have a positive social and environmental impact."
The certification journey
For many Suffolk B Corps, certification represents years of commitment and preparation.
"We finally completed our assessment and received our designation in May 2022," recalls Low of Kingsfleet. "This was 12 years after we started the business and around 5 years after we first heard about B Corp accreditation."
The thoroughness of the process surprised him. "It is a very thorough investigation as we needed to score ourselves on 160 different aspects of the business," Low explains. "We were then required to evidence these and undergo two or three online interviews regarding various aspects of our business practice."
For Kingsfleet, who earned an impact score of 91.8, the process spanned three years – partly due to Covid-related delays. The result has fundamentally shaped their approach to financial planning.
"One area we have worked very hard on is the delivery of 'Sustainable' investment arrangements," says Low. "We believe that our clients should have a clear conscience on how their investments are used. If they know that their investments are not doing harm to people or the planet, then we can sleep easily too. It's not the easiest option and requires more work from us, but we believe it's the right thing to do."
Suffolk's growing B Corp community
The movement is accelerating rapidly across Suffolk. Recent times have seen several prominent local businesses join the B Corp community:
Bidwells LLP, a leading property consultancy firm committed to providing sustainable and innovative property advice, certified in May 2024
Axter UK, which is revolutionising flat roof waterproofing to create biodiverse habitats and solar-generating opportunities, certified in July 2024
Exim Group, an international freight specialist helping businesses navigate global cargo movement sustainably, also certified in July 2024
The Mackman Group, comprising three divisions focused on market research, branding and marketing, achieved certification in December 2023, demonstrating that service agencies too can prioritise people and planet alongside profit.
Balancing business reality with ideals
While B Corp certification brings reputational benefits and alignment with values, the journey isn't without challenges – particularly financial ones.
"Pay close attention to the financials," advises Low to businesses considering certification. "Launching a new product stretched me financially to the limit, and I'd be more mindful of managing costs from the start."
For Insight Energy, their B Corp status provides a framework for continuous improvement. "Being a B Corp pushes us to continually evaluate how we can grow responsibly, ensuring long-term sustainability over short-term gains," Day explains.
Both businesses emphasise the importance of community engagement as part of their B Corp commitment. Insight Energy plans to "partner with local organisations and stakeholders to create initiatives that promote clean energy adoption, job creation in green industries, and educational outreach about sustainability."
The bottom line
For Suffolk businesses considering B Corp certification, Low offers this advice: "Firstly, understand what you are committing to. It's a great badge to be able to demonstrate, but it is also a perpetual method of measurement of the decisions in the business."
The growth of B Corps in Suffolk reflects a broader shift in business priorities – one where success is measured not just by profit margins, but by positive impact on communities and the environment.
As Kristian Day puts it: "We're committed to being a catalyst for positive change, and our B Corp status gives us the framework to continuously improve our community impact."
With 22 certified companies and counting, Suffolk's B Corp movement demonstrates that local businesses are increasingly choosing to lead with purpose – proving that doing good and doing well can go hand in hand.
Insight Energy is a trusted sustainable energy solutions provider. Based in Woolverstone, they focus on innovative solar technology, advanced battery storage and optimised electric vehicle charging systems. Their mission is to offer high-quality, market-leading products that empower homeowners and businesses to make data driven decisions that moves them towards a more sustainable future.
