Our annual conference and exhibition has now come to a close – we hope you have found the sessions informative and inspiring.

Below is a round-up of the day’s activities. Do let us know what you think by completing the online evaluation form.

Plenary sessions

Chris Hopson, NHS Providers chief executive, spoke with the Rt Hon Matt Hancock in his first major contribution at an NHS Providers' conference, who talked through his key priorities in more detail, including changing the attitude to technology within the NHS, seeing a change in the levels of workforce morale and focusing on prevention as the key to long-term sustainability. The health and social care secretary also said there is more value to be found in collaboration than forced competition within the service. He ended the conversation by thanking all staff in the NHS for the part they play in keeping the show on the road. You can watch the interview below.

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Andy Burnham, mayor, Greater Manchester Combined Authority, announced a new place-based preventative role for the NHS as part of devolution via the Greater Manchester model. This will include the establishment of place-based teams to focus on people, place and prevention, guaranteed nursing jobs for nursing students in Greater Manchester and publishing waiting times data for children and young people’s mental health services. He also called for the alignment of social care funding to the principles of the NHS to ensure that everyone has access to social care.

Ian Dalton CBE, chief executive, NHS Improvement, kicked off our final session by acknowledging the challenges the provider sector has faced in the past, including the workforce challenges and strained financial context. He announced some changes to the financial framework we should expect to see to see in the NHS long-term plan, including a significant reduction of the provider sustainability fund, the abolition of the marginal rate emergency rule and 30 day readmission fines, as well as a move beyond individual financial control totals for providers. Ian thanked the hard work of trust boards and acknowledged the challenging context that trust leaders are working within

New report on clinical chief executives

We launched a new report in which we spoke to 13 chief executives with a clinical background to give further insight into the value this offers to executive director roles. Following it's publication, we held a breakfast session this morning focusing on what the barriers and enablers to becoming a chief executive continue to be, drawing on the personal experiences of current and former senior leaders across the NHS.

2019 dates announced 

We're pleased to announce that our 2019 annual conference will take place on 8 – 9 October in Manchester. Do block out your diaries for next year and look out for further details soon.

We hope you have enjoyed this year’s conference and we look forward to seeing you again next year.