A new mindset for healthcare systems
Chaired by Mike Bell, Chair of NHS South West London ICB and Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust, the webinar opened by reflecting on the repeated attempts to fix long standing issues in the NHS. He highlighted that the time to act is now, using the 10-year health plan as a platform to drive real change.
He recalled how bringing in Strasys a decade ago helped guide a turnaround at Croydon, where previous approaches failed to deliver meaningful change. Strasys’s innovative approach to shifting the transformation focus towards consumer and population needs played a key role.
The severe challenges facing the NHS
Kevin Lavery, Chief Executive, NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB, outlined the severe challenges: a growing and ageing population, increasing health conditions, and financial pressures. He highlighted that 60% of a £5 billion healthcare budget is spent on the acute sector. A shift towards community care is essential to manage growing demand.
Governance must shift from performance measurement to value creation
A new social contract must ensure fairness in the allocation of resources. The concept of “allocative equity” was discussed, with efforts to standardise and equalise care for underserved communities being key to ensuring health inequalities are addressed.
In conclusion, there was clear consensus that the current model is outdated and must live within its means. Effective system working goes beyond integration and collaboration. It demands a new mindset and skillset. Colleagues must set aside institutional interests and shift from managing demand to genuinely addressing need.