UHUK members set out ambition to help shape the future of nbh
More than 20 leaders from UHUK member organisations came together for two days of strategic discussion, collaboration and shared learning, exploring how social enterprise urgent and integrated care providers can help shape the future of neighbourhood health.
Bringing together chief executives, senior leaders and strategic partners, the annual UHUK CEO Workshop focused on the opportunities created by the NHS's growing emphasis on neighbourhood health and the role members can play in delivering more joined-up care for their local populations.
UHUK members already provide many of the capabilities that neighbourhood health depends on. Every day they coordinate care, manage urgent demand, support multidisciplinary working and help people receive care closer to home. The workshop explored how those strengths can be developed further through stronger collaboration, innovation and a clearer, more confident collective voice.
Reflecting on the event, UHUK Chief Executive Conor Burke said:
"We've been preparing for this workshop for almost a year, but until you bring people together you never quite know where the conversation will take you.
"What stood out over the two days was the energy in the room and the determination of our members to make a genuine difference. There was a clear recognition that neighbourhood health is becoming central to the future of the NHS, and that our members have an important contribution to make.
"The discussion wasn't about starting from scratch. It was about building on the experience, relationships and expertise that already exist across our membership, working more collaboratively, speaking with a stronger collective voice and demonstrating the value social enterprise providers bring to local health systems."
Three themes emerged consistently throughout the workshop.
Members recognised the opportunity to build on their existing role as urgent and integrated care providers, strengthening partnerships across primary care, community services, mental health, social care and the voluntary sector to support neighbourhood health.
There was also a strong appetite to raise the profile of the sector and better articulate the contribution social enterprise providers make to patients, communities and the wider NHS. Members discussed the importance of sharing evidence, speaking with greater consistency and ensuring their experience helps inform national and local policy as neighbourhood health continues to develop.
Innovation remained a key focus, with discussions centred on how successful digital solutions and new ways of working can be scaled safely and consistently across organisations to improve patient care.
The programme also benefited from contributions by UHUK's strategic partners (One Advanced, Cleo, Hallam Medical and Blinx Healthcare), alongside an international perspective from John Adie, Professor of Urgent Care in the School of Health at the University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia. Drawing on Australia's experience of developing urgent care as a relatively new model predominantly as a subspecialty of General Practice, he highlighted the importance of building evidence, developing consistent standards and learning collaboratively as services evolve.
The workshop concluded with a shared commitment to strengthen partnerships, accelerate innovation and increase the visibility and influence of the social enterprise urgent and integrated care sector. The discussions and priorities identified over the two days will now help shape UHUK's programme of work, supporting members while ensuring their expertise and experience continue to inform the future development of neighbourhood health.