Healthcare leaders from across the West Midlands came together in Birmingham Library on 26 February to focus on some of the digital areas integral to delivering the priorities of the NHS Long Term Plan.
Organised by Arden & GEM and global innovation consultancy Optimity Advisors, the afternoon event covered how digitally enabled initiatives can provide a new and different slant on integration and the transformation of care.
The first session looked at the ‘art of the possible’; specifically how connectivity can expand our vision for healthcare. Satellite Applications Catapult Adviser to the West Midlands Combined Authority, Kieran Arnold shared the UK perspective while Stephen Downs from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, shared the US experience.
The second session ‘where we are today’ featured a discussion around the key challenges for workforce, capacity and access with presentations from Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership’s Chief Digital Officer, Stephen Dobson and diabetes digital solutions provider Mapmyhealth’s Chief Operating Officer, Dr Iain Brogan.
The final session of the day ‘moving forward’ focused on how digital solutions can be integrated into local health and care systems, with Dr Niamh Lennox-Chhugani from Optimity Advisors sharing lessons from across Europe and Adrian Smith from Arden & GEM providing an overview and update from a satellite-enabled capsule endoscopy trial taking place in the Scottish Highlands and Islands.
The event generated interesting discussions, with delegates able to learn more about what their neighbours are doing to deliver smart healthcare, both today and for the next ten years.
If you are interested in learning more about the event content, please email contact.ardengem@nhs.net