The UK healthcare ICS Congress

The Innovating NHS Systems Congress
7th of December 2026, London England

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Agenda 2025
The Innovating NHS Systems Congress

9:30 - 9:45
Welcome Address
Welcome from our chairperson.
9:45 - 10:30
Integrated Care Systems: Joining Up Digital Services
ICS leaders share how they connected previously fragmented digital systems across hospitals, GPs, community teams, and social care to enable seamless patient journeys.

• Learn about shared care record platforms that give all clinicians access to complete patient information
• See interoperability standards and APIs that connect different IT systems
• Understand data sharing agreements and information governance for cross-organizational access
• Discover digital referral pathways that transfer patients smoothly between services
• Find out how ICSs measure the impact of joined-up digital infrastructure

This session shows the technical and organizational work required to move from siloed systems to integrated digital care across entire regions.
10:30 - 11:15
Prevention at Scale: ICS Population Health Programs
ICSs are uniquely positioned to run prevention programs across entire populations. This session explores how health systems identify risk, target interventions, and measure prevention impact.

• See population health management platforms that segment populations by risk and need
• Learn about targeted screening programs for high-risk groups identified through data analytics
• Understand how ICSs coordinate prevention across primary care, community services, and public health
• Discover social prescribing programs that address wider determinants of health
• Find out how to build business cases for prevention that show reduced hospital demand

Public health directors and ICS analytics leads present programs preventing disease at population level, with evidence of clinical and financial outcomes.
11:15 - 12:00
Virtual Wards: Treating Hospital Patients at Home
Virtual wards allow patients to receive hospital-level care at home, supported by remote monitoring and community teams. Clinical leads share implementation experience and proven models.

• Learn about patient selection criteria and clinical pathways for virtual ward admission
• See remote monitoring technology that streams vital signs to hospital control centers
• Understand staffing models including consultants, nurses, and therapy teams supporting home patients
• Discover how virtual wards integrate with ambulance services for rapid response when needed
• Find out about clinical outcomes, patient satisfaction, and cost comparisons with inpatient beds

This session includes detailed program designs from trusts running successful virtual wards, treating respiratory, cardiac, and frailty patients at home.
12:00 - 12:45
Community Diagnostic Centers: Access Close to Home
Community diagnostic centers provide scans, tests, and checks locally instead of requiring hospital visits. Service designers explain how they planned and launched these centers.

• Learn about optimal locations, opening hours, and service mixes for diagnostic centers
• See equipment specifications and space requirements for imaging, pathology, and testing
• Understand referral pathways and result reporting that connect diagnostics to treatment decisions
• Discover staffing approaches and training requirements for community-based diagnostic teams
• Find out how centers measure access improvements, patient experience, and diagnostic speed

Operational leaders present business models, utilization data, and lessons from establishing diagnostic centers that reduce pressure on hospitals.
12:45 - 13:30
Primary Care Networks: Digital Transformation Together
GP practices in PCNs can adopt digital tools faster by working together. Clinical directors share how networks coordinate technology implementation across multiple practices.

• See shared digital platforms that all practices in a network use for consultations, triage, and monitoring
• Learn about pooled procurement that gives PCNs better prices and standardized systems
• Understand training programs that upskill staff across entire networks simultaneously
• Discover data sharing that allows network-wide population health management
• Find out how networks support smaller practices that lack IT capacity for digital transformation

PCN leaders present examples of shared digital infrastructure enabling better care while reducing individual practice burden.
13:30 - 14:30
Lunch Break
14:30 - 15:15
Data-Driven Prevention: Using Analytics to Target Interventions
ICS analytics teams explain how they use data to identify people who need preventive interventions before they become ill or require emergency care.

• See risk stratification models that score populations for various health conditions
• Learn about predictive analytics identifying people at risk of hospital admission
• Understand how to combine primary care, hospital, and social care data for prevention targeting
• Discover programs using data to reduce health inequalities by targeting underserved groups
• Find out how to measure prevention program effectiveness and ROI

Data scientists and service improvement teams present analytics platforms and programs with evidence of reduced emergency activity through targeted prevention.
15:15 - 16:00
Scaling Innovation Across Systems
Good innovations need to spread from early adopters to entire systems. Innovation leads discuss frameworks and programs that help successful projects scale.

• Learn about adoption support packages from AHSNs and national programs
• See frameworks for adapting innovations from one context to another
• Understand funding mechanisms that support system-wide implementation
• Discover evaluation approaches that prove innovations work before wider rollout
• Find out how to engage reluctant organizations and build momentum for change

National program leaders and sites that successfully adopted innovations share practical guidance on spreading good practice across NHS organizations.

This Year's Conference:
Innovating NHS Systems Congress: A Strategic Imperative for Leaders

The NHS faces fundamental shifts. Fiscal realities and structural evolution demand a new approach to leadership. This Congress is engineered for senior NHS leaders to directly address critical imperatives:
  • Strategic Digital Investment: Optimise technology commissioning for demonstrable value and efficiency within tight fiscal frameworks.
  • Accelerated Transformation: Implement system-wide innovation by dismantling bureaucratic barriers and scaling proven solutions.
  • Integrated Care Re-engineering: Leverage digital to actualise a preventative, community-centric model of care.
  • Advanced Medicines Management: Utilise digital pathways for enhanced outcomes and operational efficiency in pharmacy.
This is an essential congress for actionable insights, peer collaboration, and establishing the strategic blueprints necessary for a resilient and effective NHS.

The GIANT Health Conversation.
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Join us on the journey leading up to this year’s Integrated Care System Congress. We're engaging in conversations with our esteemed panel chairs and speakers to delve into this year’s themes. Stay tuned as we release short clips from behind the scenes, offering a preview of what’s to come and setting the stage for the insightful dialogues ahead. Come along as we prepare for this year’s ICB Congress. Follow the Giant Health Event on LinkedIn for updates!

Who is this conference for?
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The National ICS Innovation Congress is tailored for senior leaders, policymakers, and key decision-makers within the NHS and its partner organizations, all working to advance the future of Integrated Care Systems (ICS). This event offers a crucial platform to explore innovative approaches that improve patient outcomes, enhance system integration, and support the delivery of NHS Long Term Plan objectives. Attendees will gain insights into national policy updates, best practices, and real-world case studies that highlight how innovation is transforming care pathways and reducing health inequalities.

For NHS leaders and policymakers, the congress provides an opportunity to engage with sector experts, frontline professionals, and innovators to share knowledge and shape the next phase of ICS development. Discussions will focus on overcoming system-wide challenges, integrating digital solutions, and adopting new models of care that meet the evolving needs of communities.

Sponsors and delivery partners will have the chance to connect with NHS leaders and key decision-makers, demonstrating how their solutions can support ICS priorities. The event is an ideal platform to build strategic partnerships, raise brand awareness, and contribute to the ongoing transformation of integrated care across the NHS.

GIANT's role
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Uncover the Power of Integrated Care: Join leaders of the ICS and healthcare innovators in conversation, advancing the vision of integrated care. Secure your place today to shape the future of healthcare delivery.

The Next Era of Healthcare: Since the transition from Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) to Integrated Care Bodies (ICBs) in 2022, the NHS has embraced a new vision of integrated care. Learn more about this transformation here

Integrated Care Systems (ICS) bring together various healthcare organisations, local authorities, and community groups to collaborate closely in providing seamless and coordinated care to patients. Discover more about ICS here and for more analysis read here

 Join us to witness the evolving conversation, ensuring the ICS achieves its purpose through the lens of innovation.