Our simulation will share the ingredients for neighbourhood success

We have arrived at a critical moment for the NHS to deliver on its longstanding ambition to move more care out of hospital into community settings. Progress over the years has been at best patchy. Despite a long legacy of schemes and strategies to deliver the shift, it’s been a struggle to scale up and spread notable local successes.

This time we really have to make it stick. We are working hard at NHS Providers to support these efforts. Our forthcoming annual conference and exhibition (ACE) will feature a novel approach to facing, working through and solving the challenges – a neighbourhood simulation.

Over two immersive days at the conference on 11 and 12 November, frontline NHS teams from around Manchester, together with participants from local government, the voluntary sector and people with lived experience will test new ways of delivering the shift to neighbourhood care.

Real-life professionals fulfilling their everyday roles will interact with volunteer residents who have been given detailed back stories and scenarios. This simulated world will have the services tools, data and events you would expect to find in a new neighbourhood service.

There will be an opportunity to follow the simulation at the event in real time through plenary updates, observation sessions and a closing panel. These will demonstrate the impact of decisions and show how colleagues across different sectors can work together to challenge assumptions, test new ideas and develop solutions.

Delivered in partnership with PPL, and supported by Optum and Feedback Medical, the simulation will be a unique opportunity to watch change in action, spot the pitfalls and see what works in a safe but realistic environment.

On my many travels to different types of trusts across the country I have seen some amazing initiatives to take forward neighbourhood working. But I know from experience as a trust leader that sometimes progress has come despite, rather than because of the operating environment we work in.

Now, as never before, there’s an opportunity and an imperative to deliver that shift. I know we can do this but we need to support each other in sharing the ingredients for success. NHS Providers has a key role to play in this and our neighbourhood simulation at ACE will bring those lessons to life. I look forward to seeing you there!