On 25th September, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) officially launched the national initiative to embed Value Based Procurement across the NHS, with an initial focus on the £10 billion annual spend on Medical Technology. In moving from a ‘cheapest-first’ to a ‘patient-first’ approach to purchasing, David Lawson, Director of Medical Technology and Innovation, DHSC will outline, in his keynote speech, how this pioneering initiative will positively impact the NHS and its partnerships with industry. David will also outline how other key initiatives – Low Friction Procurement, Rules Based Purchasing, Compass, Passporting etc – provide the ecosystem of enablers and infrastructure to make VBP become a reality.

Procurement is the key enabler between the NHS and industry in securing optimum value from key supply markets in supporting NHS organisations to deliver the best outcomes for patients. For the first time ever, at a national strategy and policy level, the life sciences and commercial/procurement functions are coming together under a single national leadership team with a prime focus on ‘commercial and growth’. In his keynote speech, Ed James MBE FCIPS, Director of Procurement, Humber and North Yorkshire Procurement Collaborative, will explore the key initiatives in the emerging procurement landscape.

What does the future focus on value and growth mean for the NHS Procurement and for industry? Will there be a renewed focus on value based healthcare? And what about Social Value? Or do need more ‘mission-based’ procurements? An open panel discussion featuring David Lawson and Ed James will debate the national and regional perspectives, followed by Q&A.

"Few innovations have captured the imagination of frontline clinicians and national policymakers as quickly as ambient scribing — intelligent, real-time transcription tools that automatically document clinical conversations, freeing valuable time for patient care. What began as a breakthrough in automated note-taking is now rapidly evolving into a foundational technology powering the next wave of AI-enabled workflow automation — from clinical coding and order communications to integrated decision support and task management. This session will explore how the NHS can commission, procure, and scale these solutions responsibly and at pace amid an increasingly crowded supplier market."

GP Triage is an NHS-assured, AI-powered digital triage platform designed to help practices manage demand safely, fairly, and efficiently. Built in partnership with Microsoft and fully integrated with EMIS and SystmOne, it automates the entire front door of general practice. By replacing manual triage with intelligent automation, GP Triage significantly reduces workload, lowers operational costs, and improves patient access, enabling practices to focus their time where it matters most: delivering high-quality care

As artificial intelligence continues to gain traction across healthcare, the question of return on investment (ROI) remains a critical yet often overlooked challenge. While hospitals, primary care networks, and pharmaceutical companies increasingly adopt AI-driven tools, many find it difficult to assess whether these technologies are generating meaningful clinical, operational, or financial value beyond the initial promise. This panel will offer a strategic discussion on how to define, measure, and realise ROI in healthcare AI. Moving beyond simple cost-benefit analysis, our expert speakers will explore broader indicators of success — including improved patient outcomes, workforce productivity, and long-term system sustainability, as well as exploring the real costs behind maintaining artificial intelligence. Drawing on real-world applications from hospital systems, general practice, and pharmaceutical research & development, the session will highlight evidence-based frameworks, key performance metrics, and governance strategies that support scalable, high-impact AI deployment. Our speakers include leaders from across the healthcare ecosystem — providing a comprehensive, cross-sector perspective on delivering value through AI.

Hospitals have a separate procurement team which sits within Pharmacy. This team is a dedicated team responsible for all aspects of ensuring contractual frameworks are met and saving opportunities are implemented. Panel will discuss how medicines procurement benefits from a national team approach to get the best value, use of resources and digital opportunities to provide efficiencies.

Delivering true system value in digital health and care requires a holistic approach that prioritises trusted collaboration with communities, investment in digital and data skills, and a deep understanding of what matters locally. Cross-sector research plays a critical and translational role in this space: generating empirical insights and evidencing the need to ensure that local investment and commissioning align with regional priorities, social value commitments, and equity objectives.
By grounding innovation in research on health inequalities and exploring the impacts of digital and data in this space, we can design pathways that are both useful and usable for all our populations. Community involvement and feedback are central to this process, guiding investment decisions towards interventions that deliver meaningful outcomes to support people to thrive in the places they live.
About us: NortHFutures is a collaborative Digital Health Hub for the North East and North Cumbria (NENC), led by the region’s universities and rooted in the ethos that healthcare technologies should work for people and communities. Our approach to health-tech research and innovation is shaped by a commitment to community-centred design, ethical responsibility, and digital inclusion. We bring together universities, NHS Foundation Trusts, local authorities, industry, and the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector to understand how digital tools, data, and innovation can help people live healthier lives.

Clinical leaders and clinical staff play a significant and pivotal role in the procurement of all goods and services in healthcare, especially in the context of identifying and extracting value from key supply markets that make a difference in measurably improving patient outcomes and delivering meaningful, sustainable productivity and efficiency improvements. Andrew Stradling, Chief Medical Officer and Executive Director at the London Procurement Partnership will be joined by Michelle Johnson MBE, National Clinical Executive Director at NHS Supply Chain (responsible for the sourcing and supply of over £5 billion per annum of clinical products and services for NHS hospitals) who will lead a panel discussion (followed by Q&A) on the vital role that clinicians play in procurement when engaging industry in shaping and identifying relevant innovations and solutions.

GIANT is proud to showcase an impressive selection of Europe’s leading, award winning health-tech innovation start-ups. Continuing our 12-year track record as the leading “magnet for innovation”, according to the BBC, here’s an important selection of superb businesses demonstrating valuable innovations in healthcare - innovations that support GIANT’s mission “To improve the health and well-being of people around the world, by facilitating the acceleration and adoption of tech innovation”

To truly shift to a prevention first mindset, prevention need to be accessible, person focused, personalised and integrated into the wider ecosystem of health. This session explores how bringing prevention into everyday life, workplaces, community, supermarkets, places of worship; creates earlier detection, closes inequality gaps, boosts productivity and unlocks a smarter, data-driven approach to prevention for everyone. Samantha Fay, CEO of SISU Health will present a range of case studies and data gathered from over 1 million health interactions and from over 1000 locations to present a compelling case for a national prevention infrastructure, engaging employers and aligned with the NHS neighbourhood strategy

Sir Jim Mackey, CEO NHSE in an exclusive conversation with Roy Lilley.

Sir Jim will be talking about:
Change Management
Reorganisation
The 10 yr plan
The impact of technology
Workforce and the challenges facing the NHS this winter
Learn just how tough you have to be at the top.
There will be time for questions so bring your best one!

An Evening of Conversation and Cuisine is an exclusive networking dinner designed specifically for CEOs attending the fringe. This intimate gathering offers a relaxed setting where leaders can step away from the hustle of the day and engage in meaningful, peer-level conversations over a shared meal. Whether you're looking to spark new partnerships, exchange ideas, or simply enjoy good company, this is your space to connect with fellow executives navigating similar challenges and opportunities. Please note: this is a self-funded dinner—attendees will be responsible for covering the cost of their own meals.

This opening session grounds the conference in the realities of surgery today. A transplant recipient shares the lived experience of facing the operating theatre, joined by a consultant surgeon, a trust-wide safety lead anaesthetist, and a matron for the operating theatres. Together, they unpack what it means to deliver operations in 2025 covering the realities of theatre culture, multidisciplinary teamwork, and the patient outcomes that define success.

Patients to share their experiences of undergoing surgical care in the NHS over the last three decades.

What will the operating theatre look like in 2030. The UK has a diverse portfolio of operating theatres, most built in accordance with national guidelines set by the NHS. With the rollout of The New Hospital Program and many operating theatres being up for renewal, now is the time to look at advances in operating theatre design and use. This expert panel will look at technological advancements that protect our patients, staff and planet taking into account:
- Advancements in operating theatre design
- Reducing energy consumption
- Infection prevention, control and antimicrobial resistance
- Occupational health of staff working in theatres

How are NHS hospitals using AI to clear backlogs and boost operating efficiency? This panel shares case studies on AI-driven scheduling, bed planning, and resource management — revealing what’s actually worked, what integrated well with EPRs and staffing systems, and how others can adopt similar strategies.

What does successful robotic surgery actually look like at scale? Learn from Trusts that have moved beyond pilot phases — building full programmes with clear utilisation goals, integrated training, and multidisciplinary buy-in. A practical blueprint for Trusts seeking sustainable adoption.

As the operating theatre becomes increasingly digital, innovation is shifting from instruments to algorithms, interfaces, and intelligent robotics. In this session, Jack Severs, UK and European Patent Attorney and Partner at GJE, explores how patent protection is shaping the next generation of surgical technologies. Drawing on recent data and patent filing trends, he will highlight who the key innovators are, what kinds of technologies are being protected, and why securing strong IP rights is critical for investment and growth. The session will also touch on some of the unique challenges in protecting digital surgical innovations — from software-based inventions to exclusions for medical methods — and offer practical insights on navigating these issues effectively.

As AI systems move into the operating theatre, their impact will extend beyond technical performance. The real question is how these systems can be designed, implemented, and integrated so that they actually support the surgical workforce rather than disrupt it. This panel will explore the human factors of responsible AI in surgery: how to build trust, ensure usability, and define appropriate roles for humans and machines in high-stakes surgical contexts.

As digital surgery becomes the norm, how do we prepare the next generation? This panel showcases how UK and global institutions are embedding robotics, simulation, and AI into early surgical training — with examples of national curricula, VR tools, and new certification frameworks already in play.

Why leave early when the best conversations happen after the formal programme ends? After a day exploring the future of surgery, join fellow innovators, clinicians, and healthcare leaders for our annual Christmas celebration. This isn't just festive drinks—it's where the ideas sparked during today's sessions crystallize into genuine collaborations. Whether you're a surgeon curious about a robotics platform you saw demonstrated, a trust director seeking to compare notes on AI implementation, or a startup founder wanting to understand clinical needs more deeply, this relaxed environment creates the space for authentic connections that structured panels simply can't. The innovations that will define the operating theatre of 2030 won't emerge from presentations alone—they'll be forged in exactly these moments, over drinks and genuine conversation, between people who share a vision for transforming surgical care.

Hosted by Professor Shafi Ahmed.

Who Should Attend
This dinner is exclusively for:

• Senior Consultant NHS Clinicians leading or implementing AI initiatives in their trusts
• Business Directors responsible for AI strategy and procurement in healthcare organizations
• Chief Medical Information Officers and Chief Clinical Information Officers
• Digital Transformation Leads at ICB or Trust level
• Medical Directors championing AI adoption in clinical pathways
• Healthcare AI Company Directors seeking genuine NHS partnerships

Limited tickets remain for this premium senior-networking dinner and are £90 per person, including meal and drinks. You can reserve your place here:

This session brings together leading NHS operators and an international transformation expert to explore how modernisation actually happens. The discussion will examine what it takes to bridge strategy and execution across clinical, operational, and digital teams in high-pressure environments, and what lessons global health systems can learn from one another. Using real-world examples from major NHS trusts—combined with transformation insights from large U.S. health systems—the panel highlights:
- How to modernise EPR’s, patient access and digital front doors across multi-site NHS environments
- Why communication, culture, and change-readiness matter more than any single technology
- How to align clinical, operational, and digital teams around a shared future-state vision
- What EPR migrations (Epic, Cerner, etc.) reveal about the hidden human infrastructure needed for success
- How AI, IVA, and cloud-based platforms can enable—not replace—better workflow design and safer patient journeys
- What the NHS can take from global systems, and what international organisations learn from the NHS model

UK patient wear is stuck in the commodity era. TONIC is building the category-defining brand that's changing that.
TONIC is proving what patients have always known: what you wear during recovery isn't cosmetic—it's clinical infrastructure.
Join Founder Sophie Kinross as she unpacks:

Why patient apparel is not a commodity purchase
How clinical validation is replacing "nice to have" with "need to have"
A market ready to move
What happens when you position recovery wear as clinical infrastructure from day one

Is your finance function holding back your NHS organisation? Discover how Sage Intacct’s cloud-based platform is transforming finance teams with automation, real-time insights, and smarter reporting — freeing resources to focus on what really matters: patient care.

Moving care from Hospital to community will enable patient centred care, bringing care closer to home and supporting the care in hospitals for those who need it most. How do we engage the pharmacy workforce and what digital advances will enable seamless patient care?
With opportunities to focus on prevention and changes in regulation, the pharmacy team are an ideal clinical resource to provide clinical care and improve patient outcomes.

"What if every long-term condition pathway came with built-in psychological support?
We treat long-term conditions medically, but who treats the fear, uncertainty, and exhaustion that come with them?
This session explores the psychological burden behind long-term conditions, why current pathways miss it, and what happens when digital delivery finally steps in. Featuring insights from the COMPASS trial with King’s College London."

The NHS is redesigning what it means to be a hospital - not just modernising what we already have. But what will tomorrow's hospitals actually like, and who is leading the change? Join us in this pannel to explore how new digital infrastructure, smart systems and AI are being embedded from the ground up.
The problem is clear: Old NHS infrastructure can't keep up with modern care.
The solution?: Design hospitals that can evolve - with embedded data, flexibility and climate resiliance.
This panel brings together leaders building the next generation of the NHS.

Entering the Healthtech sector as a clinician can be challenging— marked by limited exposure during medical training, unclear entry routes, and the challenge of developing technical competencies alongside clinical responsibilities. Despite growing interest, many medical professionals remain uncertain about how to take their first steps into this evolving space. This panel will provide clear, practical insights into how clinicians can engage with healthtech across all stages of their career. From independent projects and collaborative research to entrepreneurial ventures and innovation leadership, our speakers will outline actionable strategies, essential skill sets, and ways to build a professional profile that aligns with digital transformation in healthcare. We will also explore the practical application of these strategies, helping attendees translate inspiration into tangible next steps. With representation from early-career doctors, and senior opportunities in health innovation are accessible, whether you are just starting out as a medical student or looking to pivot later in your career. The panel will also discuss a more fundamental question: why are core digital knowledge and skills absent from the core undergraduate curriculum, and is it now time for specialist training programmes and certification of Digital Health & Clinical AI Consultants? Opportunities to ask questions will be available throughout the panel discussion.

The NHS is on a bold journey towards becoming a system of Integrated Health Organisations (IHOs) – designed to break down silos, connect services, and deliver seamless care across communities. But what does this transformation really mean for patients, clinicians, and Trusts? This panel brings together national leaders and innovators already taking steps towards integration. We’ll explore the five-year vision, showcase practical examples from across the country, and debate the real-world challenges – from culture and governance to data and digital. Join us to hear how IHOs could reshape the NHS, and what it will take to get there.

Why leave early when the best conversations happen after the formal programme ends? After a day exploring the future of surgery, join fellow innovators, clinicians, and healthcare leaders for our annual Christmas celebration. This isn't just festive drinks—it's where the ideas sparked during today's sessions crystallize into genuine collaborations. Whether you're a surgeon curious about a robotics platform you saw demonstrated, a trust director seeking to compare notes on AI implementation, or a startup founder wanting to understand clinical needs more deeply, this relaxed environment creates the space for authentic connections that structured panels simply can't. The innovations that will define the operating theatre of 2030 won't emerge from presentations alone—they'll be forged in exactly these moments, over drinks and genuine conversation, between people who share a vision for transforming surgical care.

Hosted by Professor Shafi Ahmed.

Who Should Attend
This dinner is exclusively for:

• Senior Consultant NHS Clinicians leading or implementing AI initiatives in their trusts
• Business Directors responsible for AI strategy and procurement in healthcare organizations
• Chief Medical Information Officers and Chief Clinical Information Officers
• Digital Transformation Leads at ICB or Trust level
• Medical Directors championing AI adoption in clinical pathways
• Healthcare AI Company Directors seeking genuine NHS partnerships

Limited tickets remain for this premium senior-networking dinner and are £90 per person, including meal and drinks. You can reserve your place here: