Experts to debate critical issues in UK healthcare
Speakers including Sir David Behan CBE to discuss how profession can tackle crisis
Experts will discuss critical issues facing the UK’s healthcare system such as waiting lists, infrastructure issues and challenges brought by an ageing population during a conference at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) next week.
The Critical Issues Conference on Wednesday, 13 November will see a panel of speakers give their views on how the medical profession, and those entering it, can cope with these challenges.
The free conference will culminate in the annual Lord Ribeiro Lecture, which will be delivered by Sir David Behan CBE, former CEO of the Care Quality Commission, who will discuss the current healthcare landscape and how the medical profession is evolving to tackle these pressures.
Sir David was also Chair of Health Education England and is now Interim Chair of the Office for Students and Chair of King’s College Hospital Foundation Trust.
The public lecture is hosted annually by Anglia Ruskin University and is named after its Chancellor Lord Bernard Ribeiro CBE, a former surgeon who developed the use of laparoscopic, or keyhole, surgery and went on to hold several senior public sector positions including Chairman of the Independent Reconfiguration Panel, advising the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.
Earlier in the conference a panel of experts – Dr Navina Evans CBE, Chief Workforce, Training and Education Officer for NHS England; Professor Colin Melville, Medical Director of the General Medical Council; and Professor Rich Withnall, Chief Executive of the Faculty of Medical Leadership and Management – will discuss the adaptations and requirements of the modern medical professional against a background of a healthcare system facing major challenges.
Severe infrastructure issues in the NHS led new Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting, to declare that the NHS is “broken” and “failing patients on a daily basis” when he took office in July.
The Critical Issues Conference is being organised by Dr Russell Cowan, Visiting Senior Clinical Fellow at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU).
“We frequently hear that more doctors are required in both primary and secondary care to tackle the problem of an ageing population and of long waiting lists and delayed treatment. While that undoubtedly applies to some areas of the country, it is reasonable to question whether, in general, our doctors are equipped to tackle the health problems of the 21st century.
“So what is required of the modern medical professional? The medical workforce of the NHS is its greatest asset, but is it sufficiently resilient and appropriately trained to effectively deal with the range and size of the problems they encounter every day and if not, how can these deficiencies be addressed? These are just some of many questions facing the medical workforce today, and we are delighted to welcome expert speakers to discuss these issues, which are relevant to us all.”
Dr Russell Cowan, Visiting Senior Clinical Fellow at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU)The conference will take place between 4pm and 8pm at ARU’s Chelmsford campus. Registration is free but places must be booked in advance. Visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-critical-issues-conference-tickets-1021612198587 for more information.