The NHS Confederation’s annual conference and exhibition is a unique experience where health and social care leaders can face shared challenges, find practical solutions, expand their professional network and debate topical issues.
1. MORE OUT OF AREA GP REGISTRATIONS
Simon Stevens, chief executive of the NHS England , said the health service would be “consulting on proposals” relating to digital-first primary care and a review of the out-of-area registration rules and patient choice.
2. MORE BEDS
NHSE chief Stevens: Our hospital bed stock is over pressured. We will need more not less capacity in many areas to deal with demand. That’s a “gear shift” compared to previous assumptions, he says.
3. LESS* CONFERENCES
Next year Confed and NHS Expo will join forces into one event in Manchester 10/11 June.
4. MORE TIME
In the Topol review session Eric Topol said that artificial intelligence has freed up 400,000 hours of consultation time, and tasks such as image interpretation have been outsourced to machines. He noted patients can even go to Boots pharmacies and have an AI make an accurate diagnosis of a urine infection.
5. MORE BRIAN COX
More from the Topol Review – Prof Trudie Roberts, educationalist said we need to find “the Brian Cox of the NHS” to tell people what is possible with technology and to emphasise how exciting this is.
6. MORE PRIMARY CARE NETWORKS
Dr Amanda Doyle, lead for Lancashire and South Cumbria ICS, said: “initially we were trying to do a jigsaw but we couldn’t really see the picture on the box. Now, the picture is clear and some pieces are starting to fall into place but that targeting population health and using data properly alongside Primary Care Networks will be key.”
7. LESS VIOLENT CRIME
Announcing the appointment of the first violence reduction tsar, Dr Martin Griffiths, Stevens said the health service will be taking a leading role in “breaking the cycle of violence”.
8. MORE REVOLUTION
“I think we’re on the edge of a revolution in this country [in health and social care] if we grasp the opportunity,” David Pearson, independent chair of Nottinghamshire ICS.
* We realise grammatically this should be fewer conferences