Can an injection of localism save the NHS?

Author: Localis, Conservative Conference 2012   |  

Localis hosted a jam-packed fringe event at the Conservative Party Conference on Tuesday 9 October entitled ‘Healthy Prospects: Can the government’s injection of localism save the NHS?’

Our speakers shared their views on the future of the NHS:

Rt Hon Stephen Dorrell MP, Chairman of the Health Select Committee and former Secretary of State for Health
Dr Jesse Norman MP, noted author and Member of the Treasury Select Committee
Dr Daniel Poulter MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health
Cllr Paul Carter, Leader of Kent County Council
Chair: Sarah Neville, Public Policy Editor, the Financial Times

Discussion topics ranged from the integration of health services, the future of care services, social impact bonds and the strengths of community-based care. Highlights included:

  • Stephen Dorrell MP suggesting that health and well-being boards are, potentially, the key to achieving system-wide change.
  • Cllr Paul Carter sharing the successes of innovative GPs in moving towards a preventative approach.
  • Jesse Norman MP outlining the challenges facing the NHS in the years to come and remarking on the potential of new forms of care, e.g. online solutions.
  • Daniel Poulter MP making the case for community-based care.

The hashtag for the event was #healthyprospects. Highlights from Twitter include:

  • Stephen Dorrell emphasises the need to reimagine the way healthcare works, early intervention to have far larger role
  • @Jesse_Norman outlines challenges facing the NHS, describing it as one of the nation’s most cherished institutions
  • Future medical training of workforce needs to be done in multidisciplinary way says Poulter