5 Key Takeaways from Nuffield Trust Summit 2024

This year’s Nuffield Trust Summit 2024 brought together leaders from the NHS, social care and policy, and innovators and disruptors to not only discuss how health and care systems should respond to current and future challenges, but also to develop ideas to improve the sector.

As we attended the annual event, Nick Weston, Lilli’s Chief Commercial Officer, came back with 5 key takeaways from the sessions and conversations at the 2024 Summit.

1. We can't buy our way out of the health and care crisis

At the event, Professor Sir Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) for England, the UK government's Chief Medical Adviser and head of the public health profession, makes the point that the data available already shows what the health and care demands will be for the rest of the century. He points to the fact that the sector’s current approach to staffing and investment in resources is unsustainable - while this is well-known amongst those in the industry, the stiffness of the approach has remained the same for far too long.?

What is needed is for investment to be shifted into proactive solutions rather than reactive. These solutions are here, the market is aware of them, and all we have to do now is channel funding towards them and integrate them into our systems.

2. AI will play a big role in the future of health and care?

With the ever-growing presence of AI, not only in the world of technology but also its gradually expanding presence in our everyday lives, we are now seeing it also protrude in the world of health and social care.

The summit’s discussions were filled with questions and answers about what that would mean from a clinical perspective and overall in the ecosystem of healthcare - but for now, it has to focus on productivity gains in the world of health and social care. The recent budget has committed funds to efficiency, while AI represents a real-time opportunity to drive improvements in the process.

3. It's a millennial's world and we are just living in it.?

With over 33% of the NHS workforce falling into this generational classification, the approach to work and what people want from it is changing. The current make-up of the workforce is now 1 in 2 new NHS workers are coming from overseas. Delivering outcomes is high on their agenda of aspirations, but, understandably, not at the expense of their own well-being. We need to value our workforce, and if a millennial workforce is the catalyst for conditions improving and pressures lifting, then we are here for the change.

4. There is a strong appetite for transformation in the sector

People want to see positive change, both in their workplaces and in their loved one’s lives. There is already a massive level of awareness that recognises the huge step forward that has been made during the pandemic - with the adoption of new technology as part of the solution. Now, it’s time to reactivate this momentum for positive change to happen in the sector. It's been widely noted across the health and social care ecosystem that technology such as Lilli is fundamental to its functionality and future. Remote monitoring technology has been proving a system-wide impact, relieving pressures off the sector and helping people live more independently. The appetite is clearly there, now we need more policy and decision makers to shift their focus onto digital transformation for the good of the entire industry.

5. Breaking down silos is essential for improvement?

This is the frontier that never seems to go away. Tech vendors can be part of the solution by making their tech interoperable, however interoperable isn't integrated, and requires people from across many aspects of the health and care system to redesign the system around the patient journey, and not the system silos that exist today.

There is so much work going into improving the health and social care system, shifting attitudes, expectations, and focus onto its importance for the public.?

We are always pushing for positive change and proactive care, to make better lives happen. This summit was a good insight into the mindset of leaders in the industry and the unified appetite for change within the sector.? There is a lot of work to be done, but it is encouraging to see that we are moving in the right direction.