Thursday 10th May 2018

Last week we were pleased to welcome Roger Davidson, Director of Engagement and Communications for Health System Transformation, NHS England, for the latest in our series of #LutherNetwork events.

Roger began by setting the scene for health and social care in 2018, outlining how the NHS has changed since its founding 70 years ago.  He explained the demographic pressures affecting the service, as the population ages and the percentage of the public living for longer in health grows, so that they require continued care rather than one-off treatments for the working population as it was in 1948.

Roger went on to set out his organisation’s role in delivering joined up services, as set out in the Five-Year Forward View, and explained the efforts to transform the health service to a system that is more joined up and less fragmented for people with multiple and long-term conditions, more proactive and less reactive on preventing illness, plus more empowering and less paternalistic on helping people look after themselves.  He referenced recent successes in Dorset, Berkshire and Manchester, where steps have been made to integrate care teams and minimise inefficiencies.

Setting out the challenges affecting health system transformation, Roger touched on the importance of long-term investment in the NHS, the timing of any legislative solutions and the need to do more to win the ‘hearts and minds’ of populations and health professionals.

Our thanks go to Roger and our guests for joining us.

If you would like to find out more about Luther Network events, including information on how to attend, please email events@luther.co.uk