The UK healthcare ICS Congress
The UK National ICS Congress
4–5 December 2023, London. This year’s central assembly of all ICS's leaders and stakeholders. Network with and learn from the leaders of the UK’s new ICS's - Integrated Care Systems, and meet the experts who are leading the dramatic and profound changes and innovation in the UK health sector.
GIANT Health’s Leadership Council
Our advisors who are collaborating with us on building the most impressive and worthwhile show

Lee Gutcher
Lead Programme Manager
NHS North Center London ICB

Professor Shafi Ahmed
Consultant Colorectal Surgeon
Barts Health NHS Trust

Prof Asif Ahmed
Founder & former First Exec. Dean & Pro VC Aston Medical School
Professor of Reproductive Physiology
University of Birmingham
Aston Medical School

Dr Rima Makarem
ICB Chair
Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes

4-5 December 2023, London. This year’s central assembly of all ICS leaders and stakeholders. Network with and learn from the leaders of the UK’s new ICS's - Integrated Care Systems, and meet the experts who are leading the dramatic and profound changes and innovation in the UK health sector.
During the show, we will explore the obstacles, visions, and developments of integrated care systems, providing delegates with insights into how to move forward through a mixture of keynote addresses and best-practice case studies. It will provide an opportunity to understand the ICS strategy, consider government proposals, look at the connection of services, and uncover how this restructuring can deal with the COVID-19 backlog and overcome health inequalities.
The National Health Service (NHS) in the United Kingdom faces several challenges when it comes to procurement. Some of these include:
- Limited budgets: The NHS operates with tight budgets, which can limit the amount of money available for procurement.
- Complex regulations: The NHS is subject to a complex set of regulations, including EU procurement rules, which can make the procurement process more difficult.
- Lack of standardization: There is a lack of standardization in the procurement process across different NHS organizations, which can make it difficult for suppliers to understand the requirements of different organizations
- Limited supplier base: The NHS often relies on a limited number of suppliers, which can limit competition and increase prices.
- Long procurement cycles: The procurement process for the NHS can be slow, with long lead times for procurement and delivery of goods and services.
- Limited use of technology: The NHS has been slow to adopt modern procurement technologies, such as e-procurement systems, which can make the procurement process more efficient.
- Lack of transparency and accountability: The lack of transparency and accountability in the procurement process can make it difficult for stakeholders to understand how decisions are being made and who is responsible for them.
- Difficulty in measuring and evaluating performance: Measuring and evaluating the performance of suppliers is a challenge for the NHS, which can make it difficult to identify and address issues with suppliers.

THE UK NATIONAL ICS CONGRESS
Will take place on 4-5 December 2023 in central London.
This conference is part of The GIANT Health Event 2023
"Europe's largest and most valuable international festival
of health-tech innovation"
- Financial Times.
Established for 10 years, GIANT is a vibrant, engaged UK and European business community that enables and commercialises leading health-tech innovation from across the UK and Europe.
Innovate / Collaborate / Accelerate
We successfully bring together tech innovators, investors, global Pharma corporates, established SMEs, doctors, hospital managers, government health officials, and more; to spark productive business collaboration and accelerate better health outcomes.
Time |
|
Session Title and Description |
9:45 - 10:00 |
|
Welcome from our chairman Speaker ![]() Professor Shafi Ahmed,
Consultant Colorectal Surgeon, Barts Health NHS Trust |
10:00 - 10:45 |
|
Introduction and update on the ICS ‘state of the nation’
Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) are partnerships of organisations that come together to plan and deliver joined up health and care services, and to improve the lives of people who live and work in their area.
Chairperson of the panel
![]() Dr Rima Makarem,
ICB Chair, Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes |
10:45 - 12:10 | Improving Outcomes - role of the ICSs
The purpose of ICSs is to bring partner organisations together to: |
|
12:10 - 13:00 | What are the needs of NHS trust? An exciting panel discussion lead by Chief Executive Officer of Kent community health fundation trust discussing the latest challenges and needs of NHS trusts in the nation and the requirements that they have for technology solutions to address
![]() Mairead McCormick,
Chief Executive Officer, Kent Community Health foundation Trust |
|
13:00 - 14:30 |
|
Lunch and Networking |
14:30 - 15:15 |
|
What does ICS leaders need to know about kindey and renal issues?
Leading challenges and issues in the world of renal health. Exploring the latest opportunities in health innovation to help infom leadeing ICS and ICB. |
15:15 - 17:30 | Case studies in new partnerships fostered by the ICSs |
Meet more people and learn more in one day than you will for the rest of the entire year.
If you are involved in the provision of healthcare in the UK this conference is a must attend. This important event is designed for all doctors, hospital managers, primary care partners and leaders, department of health personnel, and all new members of the individual ICSs and ICBs.
As the leading conference of 2023 convening all stakeholders involved in the new ICS and ICB structures, you will be able to network with and learn from the most important community of healthcare commissioners and meet the national leaders driving innovation and digital transformation.
See case studies of successful innovations in the new ICSs. Learn what is (and what is not) working in other ICSs across the country.

This event is for ICS Network members: ICB and ICP Chairs, CEOs, Directors, Advisorate members, and non-Exec Directors.
Sign up for GIANT 2023 to learn from top speakers, interactive breakout sessions, and most importantly network and share experience with your leader peers. We look forward to seeing you at our event
We work with the world’s largest brands in healthcare technology, hardware, software, Pharma, and more, to provide impactful, direct engagement with leading health-tech innovators and healthcare providers. Examples of partners include Eli Lilly, Novartis, Barclays Bank, NHS, Microsoft, Bayer, Ascensia, Cedars Sinai, and McKinsey.
Our proud partnerships with our valued partners are testimony to GIANT’s international reputation as Europe’s leading “magnet for innovation” - BBC in the health sector.
Sponsors & exhibitors can build cost-effective sales, new business development, and marketing communication / brand-building programs on the foundation of the GIANT Health Event, accessing GIANT’s UK and European community of nearly 300,000 passionate healthcare innovators.






