November 2024
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This conference discussed next steps for elective care recovery and addressing waiting times for healthcare in England.
It was a timely opportunity to discuss implications for policy and practice of recommendations for the Government in Lord Darzi’s recent Independent Investigation of the National Health Service in England, including around continuing the shift in care closer to home, increased use of technology including AI, and improving management structures and systems to better support frontline services.
Sessions also examined the way forward for government proposals for increasing weekly appointments by 40,000, pooling local resources, and utilising independent sector capacity. It also comes as the Government plans to launch a Fit for the Future Fund, which would aim to double the number of CT and MRI scanners in the NHS over the next five years.
Stakeholders and policymakers assessed practicalities of delivering increased appointments, including considerations for engagement with the workforce and implications of changes to working hours and practices, against the backdrop of industrial action and concerns including increased pressure on staff. Delegates also considered enabling strategies such as the development of reliable booking systems and infrastructure for the NHS estate to support increased appointments, as well as the Health Secretary’s recent announcement that high intensity theatre list models will be rolled out to 20 hospitals in England.
Agenda sessions considered the role of the independent sector going forward in supporting elective recovery. Areas for discussion included overcoming barriers in local commissioning arrangements and challenges around public-private collaboration, awareness of a patient’s right to choose, ensuring independent sector capacity is being used effectively for conditions which help relieve NHS pressures, and addressing concerns around privatisation and variation in patient access.
Delegates discussed practical considerations for pooling resources and creating shared regional waiting lists, looking at priorities for collaboration and the role of integrated care systems, utilising data and technology to manage waiting lists, and making sure changes are not a disincentive for organisations that have been performing well.
We also expected delegates to consider priorities for modernisation through the planned Fit for the Future Fund, including developing the requirements for infrastructure, technology and the workforce to deliver updated scanners and utilise AI, as well as opportunities for delivering improved diagnostics and detection of conditions closer to communities.
Further sessions assessed priorities for managing and supporting patients awaiting diagnosis and treatment, including approaches such as taught self-management and care. Delegates discussed challenges within primary care, looking at discharging patients into social care and options for advancing integrated care across the full patient pathway before, during and after treatment through the National Perioperative Care Programme.
We are pleased to have been able to include keynote sessions with: Dr Katharine Halliday, President, Royal College of Radiologists; David Hare, Chief Executive, Independent Healthcare Providers Network; Dr Jo Andrews, Chief Medical Officer, Carnall Farrar; Professor Kariem El-Boghdadly, Clinical Lead, Research Lead, and HIT Lists Co-Lead, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust; and Dr Ellen Welch, GP; Vice-Chair, Doctors’ Association UK; and Vice-Chair, North Cumbria Local Medical Committee.
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 DBT; DHSC; Home Office; OLS; DoH, NI; and the Welsh Government.
