As ever, NHS ConfedExpo is a brilliant opportunity to meet with members and other colleagues in person, to network, learn from an amazing range of contributors and benefit from peer support.

Integration and system working is the way forward for the health and care sector and NHS ConfedExpo has a fantastic range of sessions which brings together colleagues from across the sector to explore different aspects of integrated working and how they are improving outcomes for the populations they serve.

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

System improvement is a key area of interest for the ICS Network, and I’m really looking forward to the two sessions dedicated to this particular area:

Day 1: Self-improving systems: developing strategies to improve health and care across systems

Day 2: What does it really mean to embrace a continuous improvement culture?

Integrated working is providing unique opportunities to change the way health and care services are delivered, working in new collaborative ways to ensure patients get the best possible care.

We see evidence all the time from our ICS Network members showing how integrated approaches are bringing real improvement, whether that’s bettering the patient experience, helping teams work more efficiently, keeping people healthier at home and out of hospital, or saving money.

Improvement is an area that is only going to grow as the health and care service transforms, and we see evidence all the time from our ICS Network members on how integrated approaches are bringing real improvement bettering the patient experience, helping teams work more efficiently across services, and keeping people healthier at home and out of hospital.

Are there any other sessions you would like to highlight? 

I’m taking part in a session looking at NHS partnerships with the life science industry which I think will be really useful for anyone interested in the benefits from these kinds of partnership arrangements.

The session on Women’s Health Hubs looking at the Womens’ Health strategy two years on should also be of interest and value to all healthcare leaders looking to tackle health inequalities in this area.

I look forward to attending the conference and participating in the discussions.

You can view the full agenda here and you can also follow Sarah Walter on X.

Sarah Walter

Director, ICS Network