More than 1,900 delegates have attended Health and care explained, ranging from chief executives of charities to NHS leaders, students and representatives from government bodies. Returning for its ninth run, this conference gives you the opportunity to interact with our policy experts, who will guide you through the latest health and social care data and explain how the system in England really works.
You will hear balanced and honest views about the pressures and opportunities facing the system in 2021.
Reduced early bird tickets are available until Sunday 3 January. Sign up now and gain the confidence to interact more effectively with NHS, local authority and third sector organisations.
This virtual conference is open for four weeks. The content takes place over four half-days in week two. If you are unable to join all of the sessions, you will have two weeks to catch up on demand. Find out more here.
Contact details
Booking enquiries If you’d like to make a booking enquiry, please email Anna Viralainen at events@kingsfund.org.uk
If you’d like to make a booking enquiry, please email Anna Viralainen at events@kingsfund.org.uk
Programme enquiries If you have any queries relating to our event programmes, please contact Caroline Viac at c.viac@kingsfund.org.uk
If you have any queries relating to our event programmes, please contact Caroline Viac at c.viac@kingsfund.org.uk
Sponsorship and exhibition enquiries To find out more about our sponsorship and exhibition opportunities, please contact Danielle Roche at d.roche@kingsfund.org.uk
To find out more about our sponsorship and exhibition opportunities, please contact Danielle Roche at d.roche@kingsfund.org.uk
FAQs
- What is a virtual conference?
High-quality, up-to-date content is delivered to you via an online platform that is open for four weeks. During the first week, you will have the opportunity to log in, test your connection and become familiar with the set-up. The live sessions will take place over four half-days in the second week, giving you the option to catch up on demand until the end of week four.
Virtual conferences mean you can digest content at your own pace and work around a busy schedule. You can pause and rewind presentations and put your questions to our expert speakers. There is a 'main room' for sharing resources and the option of one-to-one networking. Virtual exhibition stands enable you to interact with a range of organisations who will share expertise and information – all at a time that suits you.
- What can I expect?
- How do I get the best out of the virtual conference?
- Before the event, tell your colleagues that you are taking part and block out the time in your diary.
- Make sure you are using an up-to-date web browser on a laptop or desktop. We recommend Google Chrome or Firefox for the best delegate experience.
- In week one, introduce yourself in the main chat. This is an easy way of ‘getting your voice in the room’, starting conversations and establishing new relationships with colleagues in health and care.
- Avoid as many distractions as possible so you can immerse yourself in the sessions as you would at a physical conference. Treat each session as a meeting, put your phone on silent and close down your emails.
- If you know you won’t be able to watch certain sessions live, you can submit your questions in advance and put aside time in the third or fourth week to catch up on demand.
- Each session is approximately one hour long and there is always at least a half-an-hour break between sessions so you can take a screen break or catch up on emails.
- Make the most of the online community by taking part in the live Q&As and opting in to one-to-one networking.
- Make sure you secure time in your diary at some point over the four weeks to visit the exhibition stands, where you will find free resources and can have conversations with experts from across the health and care system.
- What if I have technical difficulties?
When the event is taking place, there will be technical support available at all times but it is worth using the extra time before the first session to log in and test your connection, just in case.
- How do I access the presentations and conference materials?
Throughout the conference, we will share PDFs of the presentation slides in the lecture theatre, links to resources in the networking area and various materials in the exhibition.
The portal is open for four weeks from Monday 15 February to Sunday 14 March, when you will have the opportunity to either watch, save or download these resources.
Once the platform closes, you will no longer have access to these materials so please ensure you save everything you need beforehand.
- Why do you charge for some events?
The King's Fund is an independent charitable organisation working to improve health and care in England. Our events are a key source of income, and this income enables us to continue with our charitable objectives.
The cost of running a virtual conference is similar to that of a physical event. Although a virtual conference has fewer room hire and catering costs, in order to produce a high-quality event, we still need to pay the costs for the technical supplier, support and developing the platform. With some sessions taking place in our building, we do have to cover some venue costs. We also have a team of dedicated events professionals, content experts, digital, marketing and finance support that work on these events.
Any profit that is made from these events goes directly towards achieving our strategic priorities. You can find out more about how we are funded here.
- Do you offer bursary tickets for your virtual conferences?
We offer a number of free bursary places for patients and carers. These places are limited to maintain a balance of voices in the room between patients, service users, carers, and health and care professionals. To apply for a bursary place please email us a short paragraph explaining why you wish to attend.
Testimonials from our last Health and care explained virtual conference
This was an excellent overview of the health care system in the UK. It helped me to define the role of my organisation as it fits into the bigger picture. The holistic view presented allowed me to put the challenges for my own service in context.
Lynn Oxley, Senior Workforce Development Officer, Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals Foundation Trust
In hosting Health and care explained The King's Fund delivered an excellent programme and made it possible for the audience to interact with speakers and with each other. Alongside some really helpful lectures, this course allowed participants access to a huge array of source materials, reading, references and contacts. Generosity, openness and its determination to maximise value were evident throughout
Mary Ryan, Citizen Improver, Consultancy
The King's Fund leads with their enthusiasm and detail in virtual conferencing. Displaying the passion and endurance that is needed to gain and sustain the energy of delegates
Kay B, Expert by Experience
I found the course useful and informative. Despite the circumstances of Covid-19 the course worked well virtually. The speakers were knowledgeable and interesting and some of the course content and information I learnt was a real eye opener. I would definitely recommend
Sara Curran, HR Advisor, NHS Surrey Heartlands CCG
This virtual conference was excellent. I was surprised just how much content there was in every presentation
Ann Nunn, Co-Chair, Community Engagement Partnership, NHS Ipswich and East Suffolk CCG
A well organised and accessible virtual webinar. The information was helpful, and the technical tools enabled me to ask questions of the presenters as well as speak with attendees. I'm looking forward to participating in future events hosted by The King's Fund
Edye Hoffmann, Founder, Dementia Compass
This event was very informative and well-paced. There was opportunity to engage with others through the virtual discussion forums, there was technical support available and the links to additional information were great
Lesley Grannon, Project and Interim Manager, VAST
An excellent conference that gave a comprehensive overview of the health and care system
Claudia Barclay, Programme Officer, Health Foundation
Ticket prices
Please note, there is a £20 surcharge to cover the cost of processing invoices. This is an addition to the ticket price and will be added to your invoice. There is no charge for paying by debit or credit card.
Early bird discounts
Book before Sunday 3 January for the following early bird tickets:
- Public sector, charity or university - £65 + VAT
(standard ticket price £95 + VAT) - Small-medium sized enterprise (SME) - £95 + VAT
(standard ticket price £145 + VAT) - Commercial/profit-making organisation - £145 + VAT
(standard ticket price £195 + VAT)
Student tickets
If you are a student in full-time education, please email us for a promotional code, with a photograph of your valid student ID. Student tickets are £45+VAT.
Bursary tickets
We offer a number of free bursary places for patients and carers. These places are limited to maintain a balance of voices in the room between patients, service users, carers, and health and care professionals. To apply for a bursary place please email us a short paragraph explaining why you wish to attend.
