18th NHS Patient Flow Summit: Redefining Care Pathways

Patient Flow & Care Coordination

08:30 am
18 Nov, 2025
etc venues Manchester, 8th Floor, 11 Portland Street M1 3HU

18th NHS Patient Flow Summit: Redefining Care Pathways

Patient Flow & Care Coordination

08:30 am
18 Nov, 2025
etc venues Manchester, 8th Floor, 11 Portland Street M1 3HU

Current Landscape:

The National Patient Flow Summit serves as a national platform for leaders in NHS patient flow management, providing an opportunity to collectively address the challenges affecting patient flow across the healthcare system. In light of increasing patient numbers and complexity, finding a balance between urgent and emergency care needs while ensuring smooth access to healthcare services remains a significant concern.

Importance and Timeliness of the Event:

Given the ongoing challenges in healthcare, this conference is crucial for strategizing and optimising patient flow nationwide. It offers a timely opportunity for urgent care leaders from across the country to come together and discuss practical solutions aimed at enhancing patient care delivery and utilising resources efficiently.

Key Discussion Points:

  1. Improving Patient Pathways: Developing efficient processes for patient admission, treatment, and discharge to ensure a cohesive patient journey on a national scale.
  2. Leveraging Technology for Patient Flow: Implementing technologies such as AI-driven scheduling systems, telemedicine, and data analytics to improve patient flow and ease pressures on the NHS.
  3. Enhancing Care Coordination: Implementing strategies for better care coordination across healthcare settings to improve patient flow and reduce hospitalisations.
  4. Focus on Patient Experience: Efforts to improve patient experience, including accessibility to care, reducing waiting times, and enhancing care quality across the nation.

Why Attend:

The National Patient Flow Summit offers a valuable opportunity for healthcare professionals nationwide to contribute to improving patient flow management within the NHS. Register now to be part of this important discussion, driving practical changes within the NHS to streamline patient care and resource utilisation on a national scale.

Who will Attend

  • Chief Executives
  • Chief Information Officers
  • Chief Medical Officers
  • Chief Operating Officers
  • Clinical Directors/Heads/Managers/Leads
  • Commissioning Directors/Heads/Managers
  • Consultants in Emergency Medicine
  • Deputy Directors
  • Directors of Delivery
  • Directors of Performance and Improvement
  • Emergency Care Directors/Heads/Managers
  • General Managers
  • IT Directors/Heads/Managers
  • Medical Directors
  • Operating Heads/Managers
  • Operations Directors/Heads/Managers
  • Programme Directors/Heads/Managers
  • Service Directors/Heads/Managers
  • Strategic Planning Directors/Heads/Managers
  • Transformation Directors/Heads/Managers
  • Urgent Care Directors/Heads/Managers

Sponsors & Partners

The programme

08:30

Registration & Networking

Registration & Networking

09:30

Chair Opening Address

Chair Opening Address

09:40

Keynote Presentation

Keynote Presentation

10:00

Panel Discussion

Panel Discussion

10:30

Main Sponsor

Main Sponsor

10:50

Morning Break & Networking

Morning Break & Networking

11:50

Chair Morning Reflection

Chair Morning Reflection

11:55

Case Study - Aire Innovate

Case Study - Aire Innovate

12:15

Case Study - Your Medical Services

Case Study - Your Medical Services

12:35

Fireside Interview

Fireside Interview

12:55

Case Study - DNV Imatis

Case Study - DNV Imatis

13:15

Lunch & Networking

Lunch & Networking

14:00

Chair Afternoon Address

Chair Afternoon Address

14:05

Case Study

Case Study

14:25

Keynote Presentation - Transforming Discharge Destinations for Patients with Cognitive Impairment (Confirmed)

Dawn March
Trainee Health Psychologist
Central and North West London (CNWL) NHS Foundation Trust
Bhavani Harshini Atmakur
Team Lead Physiotherapist Home1st WICU/Seacole Inpatient Pathway
Central North West London (CNWL) NHS Foundation Trust

Background

The primary challenge was the high rate of discharges to care homes of patients with dementia and cognitive impairment, contributing to prolonged hospital stays, increased deconditioning, and reduced patient motivation.  Complex discharge processes involving multiple agencies added strain on health and social care resources. A collaboration between physiotherapy and psychology, aimed to improve outcomes for these patients within a community hospital setting.

From September 2022 to September 2023, data from patient admissions (n=546) showed 22.5% of patients had cognitive impairment, with nearly 99% discharged to care homes. Our goal was to reduce this rate by 25% through a "Home First" approach, supporting patients to return home with necessary support, ensuring timely and safe discharges and enhancing rehabilitation in familiar environments.

Method

To achieve this, we adopted a Quality Improvement (QI) framework, involving patients, caregivers, and staff to co-develop interventions based on health psychology principles. The COM-B model guided the design to improve patient engagement with rehabilitation. Key interventions included staff education on cognitive impairment, engaging activity packs for patients, and group-based physical therapy combined with elements of cognitive stimulation therapy (CST) to enhance rehabilitation journeys.

The intervention was phased, starting with pilot programs and using Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles to refine interventions. Staff training improved understanding of cognitive impairment and its effects on rehabilitation. Activity packs provided guidance on home safety, nutrition, and local resources. Group exercises combined physical and cognitive stimulation to enhance abilities and encourage social interaction.

Results

By the end of 2024 with all intervention elements in place, the team demonstrated that 87% of eligible patients (n=97) with cognitive impairment were discharged to their own homes following a stay in a community hospital.  Data over time showed the project’s impact, with home discharges increasing after the full approach was introduced in April 2024 and stabilising in the following months, indicating a new system was established. The mean length of stay for eligible patients was 40 days. Patients with longer lengths of stay required more medical input to stabilise their physical health due to conditions like pressure ulcers which limited therapy input and necessitated complex discharge plans.

Reflection

Feedback from patients and caregivers showed increased satisfaction, with patients experiencing better mobility, enhanced social interactions, and greater engagement in rehabilitation. During regular team meetings staff expressed pride in offering holistic, patient-centred care that emphasised autonomy and well-being. This collaborative approach not only decreased dependence on care homes but also improved overall care quality and patient outcomes.

Conclusion

To conclude, the "Home First" approach showcases the power of interdisciplinary collaboration in developing integrated care models. By involving staff, patients, and caregivers in co-creating solutions, we achieved significant improvements in discharge outcomes, minimised system inefficiencies, and optimised resource utilisation. This project highlights the potential of collaborative methods to transform care pathways, enhancing both patient outcomes and healthcare system efficiency. Our next steps include exploring service costs and expanding the approach.

14:45

Case Study

Case Study

15:05

Panel Discussion

Panel Discussion

15:35

Hot Buffet Food & Drinks

Hot Buffet Food & Drinks

17:00

End of Day

End of Day

Convenzisvents

Your Pass Includes....

  • Access to a leading conference speaker programme
  • Interactive Q&A sessions
  • Fireside interviews
  • Cross-sector best practice
  • Meet the supplier opportunities
  • Hot breakfast & Lunch included
  • Access to post event drinks reception and Street food

Tickets For NHS Senior Managers

We have an invite only option for NHS Senior Managers for our conference, to see if you qualify for a complimentary place please click the button below.

Register your place

Book tickets

Ticket
Price
Quantity
Charity, Not for Profit and University (In-Person)
£203.99 excl VAT
Limited places
0
Private Sector (In-Person)
£500.00 excl VAT
Limited places
0
Free NHS Ticket
£0.00 No VAT
Limited places
0

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