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Ahead of NHS ConfedExpo 2026, we sat down with Ant Tucker, Senior Policy Lead for Community and Ambulance at The NHS Alliance, to find out what he's looking forward to, and why colleagues across community and ambulance care shouldn't miss this year's conference.

What are you looking forward to most at NHS ConfedExpo 2026?

It’s an opportunity with no equal to meet, discuss, and explore the challenges the NHS faces with colleagues from across the country, hearing from new voices and established leaders alike.

Why should people within Community and Ambulance care attend NHS ConfedExpo 2026?

With The NHS Alliance being the only body representing every sector within the NHS, colleagues from every part of the UEC pathway will be in attendance. With the interface between settings and sectors a key challenge for UEC, NHS ConfedExpo is an unparalleled opportunity to tackle those challenges together.

Looking at the programme, what are you most looking forward to and why?

I’m really looking forward to starting NHS ConfedExpo strongly with our session on reducing unnecessary conveyances from care homes. With colleagues from across the country, working in acute and ambulance trusts alike, it’s going to be a great chance to learn the difference that best practice is already making, especially with this cohort being a priority within neighbourhood working.

Are there any other sessions you are looking forward to attending?

From Fragmentation to Coherence - Applying the One Architecture Model Across Health and Care: Yorkshire Ambulance Service are leading the way in uniting digital systems, which is essential to tying the whole UEC pathway together.

Reimagining frailty care: early insights from the National Frailty Improvement Collaborative - this will cover some pioneering work into improving the whole-system approach to frailty, which poses an ever-greater challenge to the UEC pathway as the population ages.

New approaches to mental health crisis care: learning from the mental health emergency departments - with too many patients in MH crisis ending up inappropriately in ED, providing dedicated spaces for treatment is essential for their care, as outlined in the Model ED.

Are there any speakers you are looking forward to hearing from?

I’m looking forward to hearing from speakers from the bodies representing patient bodies, such as Rachel Power from the Patients’ Association and Jacob Lant of National Voices. By bringing the perspectives of those receiving care from the NHS, they help keep discussions focused on the human imperative to do the best for those in need.

What advice would you give someone who is attending NHS ConfedExpo for the first time?

You can never get to everything- prioritise! Run through the agenda and set yourself an itinerary, leaving space for networking as well.

What are you hoping to take away from the conference?

Inspiration - new ideas, new perspectives, and new ambitions to incorporate into our work over the next year.

To view the full agenda for NHS ConfedExpo 2026, click here.