Population health: an opportunity to transform health and care

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The health and care system is in crisis with staff trying to address backlogs of care and the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, amid workforce shortages, financial constraints, and a wider cost-of-living crisis. But how can the system move away from this new normal to a different way of working?

Population health approaches offer the opportunity to move from a reactive system that treats people when they are ill to one that proactively addresses the impact of wider social determinants on people’s health and tackles the effects of health inequalities. Now is the time to start thinking differently about the health and care system.

At our in-person conference on Wednesday 18 October we heard from experts across the NHS, the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector, people with lived experience and international speakers about how the health and care system can begin to make this shift and make the most of existing networks and expertise. We discussed why population health approaches offers a way to tackle health inequalities and improve the health of individuals and communities, while also providing solutions for a system under constant stress.

This event was held in partnership with, and has been financially supported by Roche Products Ltd.

Sponsorship and exhibition

This event is being held in partnership with Roche Products Ltd.

If you’d like a conversation about your business goals, and how being involved with future events can help you, please email partnerships@kingsfund.org.uk.  

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Confirmed speakers

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David Buck

Senior Fellow, Public Health and Inequalities, The King’s Fund

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Professor Kevin Fenton CBE

Regional Director, Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (London), Regional Director of Public Health, NHS London

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Professor Bola Owolabi

Director, National Healthcare Inequalities Improvement Programme, NHS England and Vice President, Royal Society for Public Health

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Rt Hon Lord Bethell of Romford

former Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health and Social Care

Lord Geoffrey Filkin CBE, Member of the House of Lords

Sarah Price

Sarah Price

Chief Officer for Population Health and Inequalities, Deputy Chief Executive, NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care

Cordelle Ofori

Dr Cordelle Ofori

Deputy Director of Public Health, Manchester City Council

Dr Ines Campos-Matos

Deputy Director for Inclusion Health, Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, Department of Health and Social Care

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Julia Cream

Fellow, The King's Fund

Dr Brian Eastwood

Bevleigh Evans

Assistant Director of Population Health, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board 

Dave Higham

Chief Executive Officer, The Well Communities

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Danielle Jefferies

Senior Analyst, The King’s Fund

Dr Andy Knox

Dr Andy Knox

GP, Associate Medical Director of Population Health, Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board

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Laura Lamming

Researcher, The King's Fund

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Jacob Lant

Chief Executive, National Voices

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William Roberts

Chief Executive, Royal Society for Public Health

Sarah Smith

Associate Director Improving Population Health, West Yorkshire NHS Health and Care Partnership

Duncan Vernon

Deputy Director of Public Health, South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust and Warwickshire County Council

Merron Simpson

Merron Simpson

Chief Executive, The Health Creation Alliance 

James Williams

James Williams

Director of Public Health, Medway Council

Anne Pordes Bowers

Head, Community Public Health, London Borough of Newham

Monika Kosinska

Global Lead, Economic and Commercial Determinants of Health, WHO

10.00-11.15am Session one: What next for population health?

10.00amWelcome back

David Buck, Senior Fellow, Public Health and Inequalities, The King’s Fund

10.05amGlobal perspectives on population health

In this session you will: 

  • hear about what is driving decision-making about population health across the globe 
  • learn about the impact of economic and commercial drivers on the social determinants of health and how these factors shape behaviours. 

Monika Kosinska, Global Lead, Economic and Commercial Determinants of Health, WHO (presenting remotely)

10.30amChallenges and solutions – priorities for improving health in England over the next 5 to 10 years

In this session you will gain insight into the findings of the recently published report, A covenant for health. This cross-party report aims to set out the policies and partnerships needed to improve health in England in the next 5 to 10 years. You will hear about:

  • the role of partnerships and collaboration and what more needs to be done by the NHS, public health, charities, business, localities, individuals, and government to enable people to lead healthier lives
  • why this hasn’t happened to date – and what lessons can be learnt and built on

Lord Geoffrey Filkin CBE, Member of the House of Lords, and lead author of A covenant for health
Lord Bethell of Romford, Former Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Innovation)

*This report was led by Lord Geoffrey Filkin CBE with Professor Kate Ardern, Lord George Bethell, David Buck, Dr Paul Corrigan CBE, Professor Sian Griffiths CBE and Professor David Halpern CBE.

10.55amQuestions and discussion

11.15-11.45am: Networking break and meet the exhibitors

11.45am–12.45pm Session two: Breakout sessions

Delegates can choose to attend one of the following three parallel sessions:

  • A: Ensuring a joined-up approach to population health at a regional level – the role of public health in improving population health
  • B: A population health approach to tackling health inequalities 
  • C: Taking a population health approach to inclusion health: making the invisible visible

11.45am–12.45pm Breakout session A: Ensuring a joined-up approach to population health at a regional level – the role of public health in improving population health

11.45amWelcome and introduction

David Buck, Senior Fellow, Public Health and Inequalities, The King’s Fund

11.50amPanel discussion

In this session you will learn about:

  • how public health voices are being represented in integrated care partnerships (ICPs) and how ICPs’ approaches to population health are evolving
  • how directors of public health are working with population health roles emerging in ICSs and how public health tools can be used to support a population health approach
  • how to successfully harmonise ‘big picture’ ideas with practical action to bring about change.

Jane Pilkington, Director of Population Health, NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care 
Duncan Vernon, Deputy Director of Public Health, South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust and Warwickshire County Council
William Roberts, Chief Executive, Royal Society for Public Health

12.20pmQuestions and discussion

11.45am–12.45pm Breakout session B: A population health approach to tackling health inequalities

11.45amWelcome and introduction

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Danielle Jefferies, Senior Analyst, The King’s Fund

11.50amPanel discussion

In this session you will learn about:

  • population health approaches that can address disparities in health outcomes
  • what is being done to equip the health and care workforce with the knowledge and skills to tackle health inequalities within the new integrated care system framework
  • how partners across ICBs, the NHS, public health, primary care, the VCSE sector and other local partners are working together to develop a population health approach to health inequalities to benefit the communities they serve
  • practical examples of successful approaches that could be tailored to local areas.

Sarah Smith, Associate Director Improving Population Health, West Yorkshire NHS Health and Care Partnership 
Dr Andy Knox, GP, Associate Medical Director of Population Health, Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board
Dr Cordelle Ofori, Deputy Director of Public Health, Manchester City Council
Merron Simpson, Chief Executive, The Health Creation Alliance 

12.20pmQuestions and discussion

11.45am–12.45pm Breakout session C: Taking a population health approach to inclusion health: making the invisible visible

11.45amWelcome and introduction

Gwyneth Ataderie, Population Health Fellow, The King’s Fund

11.50amPanel discussion

Inclusion health covers a number of populations, including: 

  • people currently experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness 
  • forced migrants and refugees 
  • Roma and traveller communities 
  • those with substance and alcohol misuse difficulties 
  • people involved with the criminal justice system including prisons 
  • sex workers. 

Clinical outcomes among these groups are among the worst nationally. 

In this session you will learn about:

  • the role inclusion health can play in reaching out to socially excluded people, who experience multiple overlapping risk factors for poor health
  • why certain population groups face stigma and discrimination, which results in them not being consistently accounted for in health data.
  • how a population health approach to inclusion health can close gaps in data and ensure data includes everyone

Dr Ines Campos-Matos, Deputy Director for Inclusion Health, Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, Department of Health and Social Care
Dr Brian Eastwood, Head of Substance Misuse Pilot, BOLD Programme, Department of Health and Social Care

12.20pmQuestions and discussion

12.45-1.45pm: Lunch break and meet the exhibitors

1.45-2.45pm Session three: Breakout sessions

Delegates can choose to attend one of the following parallel sessions

  • D: Realising the potential of population health management to drive innovation in pathways. This session is sponsored by Roche Products LTD. 
  • E: Local action to deliver national plans
  • F: Case study: how an acute trust is leading the way for place and system level population health

1.45-2.45pm Breakout session D: Realising the potential of population health management to drive innovation in pathways

1.45pmWelcome and introduction

Pritesh Mistry, Fellow, Digital Technologies, The King’s Fund (confirmed)   

1.50pmPanel discussion

Population health management is a data-driven tool that can support health and care staff to better plan and meet the needs of those who use services, to improve the health of a population. As such it has the potential to transform and innovate care pathways.  

In this session you will hear about:  

  • what an effective approach to population health management looks like and how to use data to design targeted interventions and innovate care pathways  
  • practical examples of using data to inform approaches for those on elective care waiting lists and with long-term conditions  

Dr Philip Burgess, Clinical Senior Lecturer in Eye and Vision Science, University of Liverpool    
Paula Head, Policy, Value, Access Lead, Roche Products Ltd 
Bevleigh Evans, Assistant Director of Population Health, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board 
Professor Edward Kunonga, Director of Population Health Management, NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board and Director of Transformation and Population Health Management, North of England Commissioning Support 

This session is sponsored and funded by Roche Products Ltd.

M-GB-00013629, August 2023

2.20pmQuestions and discussion

1.45-2.45pm Breakout session E: Local action to deliver national plans

1.45pmWelcome and introduction

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Laura Lamming, Researcher, The King's Fund

1.50pmPanel discussion

In this session you will learn about: 

  • the role different parts of the health and care system can play in delivering better health outcomes for all  
  • how leaders across health and care view population health, what their priorities are and their vision for the future 
  • how people working in health and care can join forces to work together more efficiently and deliver better care for communities 

Dr Bharan Kumar, Clinical Director, SHAPE Primary Care Network, Bharani Group Practices and Clinical Lead – Population Health, NHS Frimley Integrated Care System
James Williams, Director of Public Health, Medway Council 
Anne Pordes Bowers, Head, Community Public Health, London Borough of Newham

2.20pmQuestions and discussion

1.45-2.45pm Breakout session F: Case study - how an acute trust is leading the way for place- and system- level population health

1.45pmWelcome and introduction

Dr Andy Snell, Consultant in Public and Global Health, and doctor in emergency medicine, Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council and WHO Regional Office for Europe 

1.50pmCase study

In this session you will hear about the three-tier framework of how Barnsley Hospital is becoming a Population Health Institution and taking more action to improve public health and reduce inequalities. You will gain insight into how local partners are:

  • taking a more holistic and preventive approach by introducing services and support for people to address key drivers of health and equity.
  • measuring and closing the inequalities gap in the hospital’s core services, so that the inverse care law is addressed, and services are fair, reaching those who need them most first.
  • maximising impact on Barnsley’s environment, economy and society, by improving procurement, employment and environment policies to have a reaching and lasting benefit.

Dr Ceryl Harwood, Consultant in Public Health, Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Chair, Barnsley Heart Health Alliance
Dr Lucy Kempster, Public Health Doctor, Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust
Amanda King, Lived experience speaker 

2.20pmQuestions and discussion

2.45-3.15pm: Networking break and meet the exhibitors

3.15-4.30pm Session four: Making the case for change

3.15pmWelcome and introduction

Sally Warren, Director of Policy, The King’s Fund

3.20pmPanel discussion: How to fundamentally rethink health and care services

Panel discussion: How to fundamentally rethink health and care services

In this panel session you will hear about: 

  • why an approach that embraces the principles of population health is not a ‘nice add-on’, but the key to solving many of the problems facing a health and care system in constant crisis
  • how to make progress in tired, old and current burning issues by putting population health at the centre of the system
  • how to plan next steps that create change
  • why population health is a model that will help the system achieve sustainable health care for all.

Professor Bola Owolabi, Director, National Healthcare Inequalities Improvement Programme, NHS England and Vice President, Royal Society for Public Health
Professor Kevin Fenton CBE, Regional Director, Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (London), Regional Director of Public Health, NHS London (presenting remotely)
Jacob Lant, Chief Executive, National Voices
Dave Higham, Chief Executive Officer, The Well Communities
William Roberts, Chief Executive, Royal Society for Public Health

4.00pmQuestions and discussion

Ticket prices

Please note, there is a £20+VAT surcharge to cover the cost of processing invoices. This is in addition to the ticket price and will be added to your invoice. There is one invoice fee per order, not per ticket. There is no charge for paying by debit or credit card

Tickets are available now: 

  • Charity <£1million turnover: £190+VAT
  • Public sector, charity (>£1million turnover)or university: £230+VAT
  • Small-medium sized enterprise: £385+VAT
  • Commercial/profit-making organisation: £520+VAT

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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. 

Contact us

Programme enquiries

If you have any queries relating to this event programme please email events@kingsfund.org.uk.

Sponsorship and exhibition enquiries

If you’d like a conversation about your business goals, and how being involved with future events can help you, please email partnerships@kingsfund.org.uk.  

FAQs

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. 

There are costs associated with running in-person conferences such as venue, catering and promotional materials to name a few. We also have a team of dedicated events professionals, content experts, and digital, marketing and finance support that work on these events. Given these costs it is sometimes necessary to charge for attendance at an in-person event, to ensure we can deliver a high-quality event experience. 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.

We offer a limited number of bursary places for people with lived experience to ensure a balance of voices in the room. To apply for a bursary place please email us a short paragraph explaining why you wish to attend.

Yes. Please select your tickets and once you're through to the registration form on Eventbrite, you can amend the 'payment method' from credit card to 'pay by invoice'.  

Please note, there is a £20 + VAT surcharge to cover the cost of processing invoices. This is in addition to the ticket price and will be added to your invoice. There is no charge for paying by debit or credit card.

Cancellations confirmed in writing more than 14 days before the first live session will be refunded in full via the same payment method. We regret that no refund can be made after that date, however, if you contact us before the event start, we can offer a transfer of your ticket to another event taking place in the following six months. Please email us at events@kingsfund.org.uk with confirmation of your original booking to cancel or transfer your ticket. On completion of the confirmed booking the delegate and their supporting organisation are liable for the fees for the event (regardless of whether payment has been made).

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