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Top picks interview series: Primary, Community & Neighbourhood Health
Ahead of NHS ConfedExpo 2026, we spoke with Ruth Rankine, Director of Primary, Community and Neighbourhood Health at The NHS Alliance, to find out what she’s looking forward to and why colleagues shouldn’t miss this year’s conference.
What are you looking forward to most at NHS ConfedExpo 2026?
NHS ConfedExpo is the only place where the whole of the system comes together around common issues and demonstrates the power of collaboration across different sectors. It offers a unique opportunity to hear directly from those driving change - sharing their insights, inspiring others, and celebrating success across the system. And it’s always a fantastic opportunity to catch up with colleagues, old and new.
Why should people working in Primary, Community and Neighbourhood Health attend NHS ConfedExpo 2026?
With lots happening around neighbourhood health, there is genuine curiosity about how to make it work and learn from those who are making great progress already. For primary and community providers - who often feel their perspective is unheard in national policy - this is the chance to engage directly with leaders and policymakers.
Looking at the programme, what are you most looking forward to and why?
We are running a main stage session - Community-led neighbourhood health: where are my peers? - sharing the work we have been doing with Local Trust, focusing on community-led change in neighbourhoods. The session will draw out the choices every system must make about control, trust and what counts as success at neighbourhood level.
Are there any other sessions you are looking forward to attending?
Reform or die – how far are we prepared to go to save the NHS?
The session will look at how we move from recovery to reform and balancing the tensions within a financially constrained and political environment.
The future or the end of primary care?
This session will explore the more provocative questions which are being asked by members and policy makers about the relevance and future of primary care in the shift to neighbourhood working.
The session will talk to colleagues in Hertfordshire who have worked together to design a place-based outcome reinvestment model.
Are there any speakers you are looking forward to hearing from?
Sir Ciarán Devane, for his first keynote as the new Chief Executive of The NHS Alliance, and Mike Barker, Deputy Chief Executive of Oldham Council, for his knowledge and wisdom based on his years of experience on shifting power, resources and accountability closer to communities.
What advice would you give someone who is attending NHS ConfedExpo for the first time?
Take time to read the agenda and bookmark the sessions you want to attend. Find out who’s going that you need to catch up with over a coffee. And take time to visit the stands.
What are you hoping to take away from the conference?
Apart from some useful merchandise(!), I always come away with new connections and new ideas for things I want to do. Looking at the agenda I don’t think this year will be any different.
Ruth Rankine
Director of Primary, Community and Neighbourhood Health, The NHS Alliance
To view the full agenda for NHS ConfedExpo, click here.