The programme
09:00
Doors Open: Morning Registration
Doors Open: Morning Registration
09:30
Opening Vision: Reimagining Midlife Health
Professor Lord Ara Darzi
Co-Director
Institute of Global Health Innovation at Imperial College London
A visionary overview of the urgent need to address midlife health through cross-sector collaboration, prevention-first strategies, and smarter healthcare delivery models.
Pre-recorded Video Address
09:45
Health or Wealth? The Ethics of Private Provision
Dr Julia Patterson
Chief Executive
EveryDoctor
Raises ethical, clinical, and systemic concerns about increasing private sector involvement in healthcare and its potential implications for public trust.
10:00
Private Practice Pulse: Private sector UK market overview
Ted Townsend
Director
Townsend Strategic Advisory Services Ltd
What are the latest statistics showing about the private healthcare sector?
What can we learn about the market for PMI, Self-pay and embassy patients that could provide a background to this discussion?
10:15
The Future of General Practice in Private Medicine
10:30
Smart Diagnostics: Fighting Cancer with Code
Dr Muhammad Babar Aslam
Consultant pathologist and clinical lead digital pathology Wales
Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
Explores how cutting-edge digital pathology is transforming early diagnosis and treatment pathways for midlife cancers.
10:45
Re-designing Dementia Healthcare: A Blueprint for Brain Health
Insights into pioneering approaches to dementia care, including infrastructure, policy shifts, and societal attitudes toward midlife cognitive decline.
Speaker: Laurence Geller CBE
11:15
Break & Brew: Morning Refreshments
Break & Brew: Morning Refreshments
11:45
Apps, Robotics and Delivery: Proven analgesics for the pain points of private prescription management
Edward Ungar
CEO & Co-founder
Pharmacierge
Sponsored insight into how digital platforms are reshaping prescription access, medication adherence, and patient empowerment in midlife.
12:00
Presentation: Stephen Powis, National Medical Director of NHS England (Provisionally Confirmed)
Navigating NHS Challenges: Opportunities for Strategic Collaboration with the Private Sector
In this presentation, we will identify key pressure points within the NHS—such as capacity constraints, workforce shortages, and rising demand—and explore where, or if, the private sector could play a role in addressing them. We will discuss practical models for collaboration, including shared diagnostic services, elective care delivery, and technology partnerships, while emphasizing the importance of maintaining NHS principles. The session will highlight how carefully structured partnerships could help meet the nation’s healthcare needs in a sustainable and equitable way.
12:15
The Role of Anaesthesia in Independent Practice
William Harrop-Griffiths
Professor of Practice (Anaesthesia) & Consultant Anaesthetist
Imperial College, London
- Current Challenges
What are the main issues currently affecting the delivery of anaesthetic services in private practice?
- PMI Pressures
How have anaesthetists navigated the challenges and constraints posed by private medical insurers?
- Training and Development
Could the private sector take a more active role in supporting the training and development of anaesthetists—and if so, how?
- Supporting the NHS
In what ways can the independent sector help alleviate some of the pressures on NHS anaesthetic services?
12:30
Healthcare Unplugged: Inside the System with a Policy Architect
Speaker: Lord Andrew Lansley
- System Complexity
How would you describe the political and structural complexities of organising a national healthcare system?
- Vision for Partnership
During your time as Health Secretary, how did you envision the relationship between the public and private sectors?
- Implementation Challenges
What were the biggest barriers or obstacles you encountered in executing your healthcare reform plans?
- Reality vs Vision
How did the outcomes compare to your original ambitions for the NHS and healthcare delivery?
- Present-Day Challenges
In your view, what are the most urgent and complex issues facing today’s Government in healthcare?
- A Future Perspective
If you were Health Secretary now, what steps would you take to create a more effective and sustainable healthcare system?
12:45
Mental Wealth: The Private Sector's Role in Emotional Health
Dr Jon van Niekerk
Group Medical Director
Cygnet Health Care
- Current Pressures
What are the most pressing challenges currently affecting inpatient mental health services in the UK?
- Supportive Collaboration
How can private providers help alleviate pressure on NHS mental health services and improve access to care?
- Model of Care
How does your organisation’s approach to inpatient care differ from NHS services, in terms of structure, service provision, outcomes, or patient experience?
- Cross-Sector Barriers
What are the key challenges in providing joined-up care across sectors, such as data sharing or commissioning models?
- Future Vision
How do you see private mental health service provision evolving over the next five years, and what innovations or reforms are needed to meet rising demand?
13:00
Ten-Year Vision: Partnering for a Healthier Nation
David Hare
Chief Executive
Independent Healthcare Providers Network (IHPN) Limited
- Understanding the Reform
What is the elective reform plan, and what are its intended goals?
- Impact on the Private Sector
How is this plan expected to influence or reshape the role of private healthcare providers?
- Implementation Reality
In your opinion, how well is the plan likely to function in practice?
- Clinician Engagement
What strategies are in place (or should be) to ensure clinician satisfaction and engagement within independent providers?
- Ethical Governance
How can private healthcare organisations be regulated to ensure they serve patients' best interests while balancing access, quality, and commercial accountability?
13:15
Midday Recharge: Networking Lunch
Midday Recharge: Networking Lunch
14:15
Counting the Cost: Health Risks to Businesses - How businesses are mitigating the financial risks that midlife health issues create
Joanne Buckle
Principal & Consulting Actuary
Milliman
Businesses are taking on more and more of the financial risks related to the health of their employees, due to employee expectations and NHS deficiencies in access. We look at the key reasons for the increase in financial risks and what employers are doing to manage and mitigate what is fast becoming a significant expense item for companies.
14:30
The Corporate View on Midlife Health and Private Care
Marjoleine Hulshof
People & Organisation Lead
Investec Bank plc
- Corporate Perspective
Why is offering private healthcare becoming increasingly crucial for companies, and what’s the business case?
- Supporting Midlife Employees
What does a responsible and forward-thinking employer look like when it comes to supporting staff in their 40s, 50s and beyond?
- Private Medical Insurance
From a corporate HR and benefits standpoint, what should private medical insurance include to be genuinely effective for employers and employees alike?
- Wider Wellbeing Considerations
Beyond insurance, what else should employers be thinking about to support the physical, emotional, and career well-being of midlife employees? Examples include the pressures of looking after elderly relatives or young children.
14:45
Insurance Rebooted: PMIs for the Midlife Majority
How Private Medical Insurers are adapting policies and packages to suit the specific needs and risks of the midlife population.
Speaker: Richard Washington, General Manager at BUPA
15:00
Cardio Countdown: Beating Heart Disease Before It Starts
Dr Balvinder Wasan
Consultant Cardiologist
Independent Doctors Federation
- Prevalent Conditions
What are the most common cardiovascular issues affecting people in midlife?
- Detection and Diagnostics
Which conditions can be detected early, and what methods or tools are most effective now and how is this going to change in the next 5 years?
- Power of Prevention
What kinds of interventions during midlife can significantly reduce long-term cardiovascular risk?
- Private Sector Contribution
How can the independent sector play a greater role in preventing and managing cardiovascular disease?
- Wider System Benefit
What are the benefits to the NHS if more prevention and early management were delivered privately?
15:15
Rhythm Revival: Tackling Arrhythmia in Midlife
Speaker: Professor Richard Schilling
- Prevalence and Detection
How common are arrhythmias in the midlife population? How are they typically diagnosed?
- Treatment Options
What are the standard treatments available, and how effective are they?
- Intervention Impact
What specific interventions can be done during midlife to improve outcomes and prevent complications?
- NHS vs Private Models
How are arrhythmias currently managed within the NHS, and where does the private sector offer added value?
- Service Innovation
Could you share your experience of setting up private arrhythmia clinics:
- What inspired you to do it?
- What were the main challenges?
- Do you believe your model could be applied to other specialities?
15:30
Comfort Break: Time to Recharge
Comfort Break: Time to Recharge
16:00
Sponsored Session: Innovation Spotlight - Ezra
An exclusive sponsored feature highlighting a breakthrough solution, service, or approach in the midlife health space.
Speaker: To be confirmed
16:15
Mobilising Care: MSK Service Delivery & Training Pathways in the Private Sector
- Workforce Trends
How many orthopaedic surgeons currently work in private practice—and is this number growing?
- Blended Careers
What are the benefits and challenges of clinicians working across both NHS and private sectors?
- Surgical Hubs and Collaboration
How are surgical hubs or collaborative models functioning in orthopaedics, and what can we learn from them?
- Training and the Next Generation
With senior surgeons increasingly leaving the NHS, what is the impact on surgical training—and is there scope for creating structured training opportunities within the independent sector?
Speaker: Mr Mark Bowditch, President of the British Orthopaedic Association
16:30
The Menopause Movement: Mainstreaming the Change
Dr. Clair Crocket
GP and Menopause Specialist
Newson Health
Advocates for mainstreaming menopause awareness, access to care, and workplace support for midlife women.
16:45
Check Yourself: A Testicular Cancer Wake-Up Call
Philip Morris MBE
Founder
Testicular Cancer UK
- Incidence and Risk
What is the current incidence of testicular cancer in the UK, and which groups are most affected?
- Detection and Outcomes
How is testicular cancer typically detected, and what difference does early diagnosis make in terms of treatment and prognosis?
- Awareness and Culture
How have you approached raising awareness, shifting cultural attitudes, and encouraging men to take their health seriously?
- Impact on Services
As awareness and early detection increase, what impact does this have on demand for services, and can the private sector play a role in meeting that need?
17:00
Mental health in midlife: tackling inequalities and improving lives
Andy Bell
Chief Executive
Centre for Mental Health
- What we know about people’s mental health during midlife.
- Inequalities in support and how to reduce them.
- A whole government approach to mental health.
17:15
Rewiring Resilience: Future Models for Mental Health
Dr Chi-Chi Obuaya
Consultant Psychiatrist
CNWL NHS Foundation Trust, the Nightingale Hospital
- Prevention Strategies
What preventative measures should be prioritised in midlife to reduce the risk of mental health decline?
- Broader Impact
How do midlife mental health challenges affect work performance, relationships, and family life?
- Stigma and Cultural Barriers
What are the most effective ways to break down stigma around mental health, especially among high-functioning individuals?
- Digital Tools
What apps or digital platforms have proven most useful in mental health management or early intervention?
- Independent Practice
What advice would you give to clinicians looking to set up an independent psychiatry practice? What are the opportunities and the hurdles?
17:30
Closing Reflections & Calls to Action
Closing Reflections & Calls to Action