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."

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. The panel will discuss how medicines procurement benefits from a national team approach to get the best value, use resources, and use 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”

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.