October 2024
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This conference discussed the future for prevention and improving outcomes for major health conditions in England.
Following the publication of Lord Darzi's Independent Investigation of the National Health Service in England, commissioned by the new Government, it was an opportunity for stakeholders and policymakers to discuss the report’s implications, the strategic direction for prevention and improving patient health outcomes for major conditions, and policy priorities for the Government as they develop a 10-year plan for the NHS and their mission for health.
Delegates examined key issues that the report draws out, including the rising prevalence of long-term conditions, increased mortality rate of those living in deprived areas, cancer care which lags behind other countries, and an overall shortfall of capital investment.
Areas for discussion included what findings in the report will mean for major conditions research, diagnosis and care of the commitment to transition the NHS to a more preventative model, with aims to improve life expectancy and alleviate the financial impact of long-term sickness.
Looking at the new direction emphasising prevention, attendees discussed implementation of innovative approaches to earlier and more personalised diagnosis, including the Government’s aim to utilise the Fit for the Future Fund to double the number of MRI and CT scanners, alongside challenges for the workforce, and the way forward for patient-centred strategies.
The agenda also included a focus on the shift towards a multi-morbidity approach, looking at opportunities and challenges of a potential transition in health service planning from a single-disease approach, and listening to patient voices to inform future direction.
Further sessions considered priorities for managing health conditions and approaches to personalised care. Areas for discussion included next steps for earlier detection and diagnosis of major health conditions, and building on current NHS Screening programmes and Early Intervention Psychosis services to undertake more personalised and targeted screening. The potential of AI to improve efficiency and reduce diagnostic wait times was also discussed, looking at collaboration with developers to test AI diagnostic tools.
There was also discussion on the current NHS workforce model, looking at priorities for pivoting to a whole-person care model, the future for general and specialist professions within care teams, next steps for recruitment and retention, and more closely aligning mental and physical health services.
We also expected discussion on priorities for public health strategies, as well as the way forward for integrated care boards to adopt and adapt approaches that best suit the needs of their populations. It was also an opportunity to assess key priorities for tackling health inequality, including enhancing the collection and utilisation of data to improve understanding of this issue, with calls to establish a central consensus on ethnicity coding within the health and social care setting.
Sessions assessed what is needed to support cross-government collaboration to tackle wider socio-economic determinants to ill health and opportunities for the new parliament, as well as the funding and provision of local community health services.
All delegates were able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates. Those that attended include officials from DHSC; DSIT; MHRA; OLS; POST; HM Treasury; DfE; HMPPS; and The Scottish Government.
