The Private Practice Conference: Midlife Health Innovation, Prevention and Action

Workforce & Care Integration

09:00 am
10 Jul, 2025
8 Northumberland Avenue, London

The Private Practice Conference: Midlife Health Innovation, Prevention and Action

Workforce & Care Integration

09:00 am
10 Jul, 2025
8 Northumberland Avenue, London

With the UK’s ageing population and the rise of chronic conditions, midlife has become a defining point in the nation’s healthcare strategy. This landmark event brings together leaders from the NHS, private sector, corporate health, and policymaking bodies to explore how meaningful collaboration—not siloed services—can unlock healthier futures and a more resilient system.

This event focuses on:

  • Closing the gap between public and private healthcare delivery.
  • Making prevention the new standard of care.
  • Unlocking innovation through employer-driven and patient-centric models.
  • Reframing midlife as the final frontier for long-term health impact.

Why Attend? Delegates will gain access to:

  • Exclusive insights from leaders in NHS policy, private health provision, and clinical innovation.
  • Real-world case studies on dementia services, digital pathology, corporate wellbeing, menopause care, and more.
  • Actionable strategies to manage workforce health, reduce chronic disease, and support healthy ageing.
  • Opportunities to network with stakeholders across healthcare, government, business, and insurance sectors.
  • Emerging trends in personalised medicine, diagnostics, and mental health support in midlife.
  • A unique forum to contribute to a national conversation on integrated, patient-first care.

Why Sponsor? Sponsors benefit from:

  • Brand alignment with innovation, collaboration, and clinical excellence in one of the UK’s most urgent health topics.
  • Visibility to NHS executives, policymakers, private providers, and corporate decision-makers.
  • Opportunities to present thought leadership, moderate sessions, or lead demos in front of a high-value audience.
  • Access to targeted networking with potential partners, clients, and public-sector collaborators.
  • The chance to directly influence and support the next wave of private-public healthcare partnerships.

This is more than a conference—it's a catalyst for cross-sector collaboration, sustainable innovation, and life-changing outcomes. Whether you’re here to connect, contribute, or lead, the Private Practice Conference is where transformation begins.

 
Conference Organiser:

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

Speaker: Dr Ajay Bagga

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

11:00

Main Sponsor Session

Synopsis TBC

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
  1. Current Challenges
    What are the main issues currently affecting the delivery of anaesthetic services in private practice?
  1. PMI Pressures
    How have anaesthetists navigated the challenges and constraints posed by private medical insurers?
  1. Training and Development
    Could the private sector take a more active role in supporting the training and development of anaesthetists—and if so, how?
  1. 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

  1. System Complexity
    How would you describe the political and structural complexities of organising a national healthcare system?
  1. Vision for Partnership
    During your time as Health Secretary, how did you envision the relationship between the public and private sectors?
  1. Implementation Challenges
    What were the biggest barriers or obstacles you encountered in executing your healthcare reform plans?
  1. Reality vs Vision
    How did the outcomes compare to your original ambitions for the NHS and healthcare delivery?
  1. Present-Day Challenges
    In your view, what are the most urgent and complex issues facing today’s Government in healthcare?
  1. 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
  1. Current Pressures
    What are the most pressing challenges currently affecting inpatient mental health services in the UK?
  1. Supportive Collaboration
    How can private providers help alleviate pressure on NHS mental health services and improve access to care?
  1. 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?
  1. Cross-Sector Barriers
    What are the key challenges in providing joined-up care across sectors, such as data sharing or commissioning models?
  1. 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
  1. Understanding the Reform
    What is the elective reform plan, and what are its intended goals?
  1. Impact on the Private Sector
    How is this plan expected to influence or reshape the role of private healthcare providers?
  1. Implementation Reality
    In your opinion, how well is the plan likely to function in practice?
  1. Clinician Engagement
    What strategies are in place (or should be) to ensure clinician satisfaction and engagement within independent providers?
  1. 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
  1. Corporate Perspective
    Why is offering private healthcare becoming increasingly crucial for companies, and what’s the business case?
  1. 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?
  1. 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?
  1. 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
  1. Prevalent Conditions
    What are the most common cardiovascular issues affecting people in midlife?
  1. 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?
  1. Power of Prevention
    What kinds of interventions during midlife can significantly reduce long-term cardiovascular risk?
  1. Private Sector Contribution
    How can the independent sector play a greater role in preventing and managing cardiovascular disease?
  1. 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

  1. Prevalence and Detection
    How common are arrhythmias in the midlife population? How are they typically diagnosed?
  1. Treatment Options
    What are the standard treatments available, and how effective are they?
  1. Intervention Impact
    What specific interventions can be done during midlife to improve outcomes and prevent complications?
  1. NHS vs Private Models
    How are arrhythmias currently managed within the NHS, and where does the private sector offer added value?
  1. 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

  1. Workforce Trends
    How many orthopaedic surgeons currently work in private practice—and is this number growing?
  1. Blended Careers
    What are the benefits and challenges of clinicians working across both NHS and private sectors?
  1. Surgical Hubs and Collaboration
    How are surgical hubs or collaborative models functioning in orthopaedics, and what can we learn from them?
  1. 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
  1. Incidence and Risk
    What is the current incidence of testicular cancer in the UK, and which groups are most affected?
  1. Detection and Outcomes
    How is testicular cancer typically detected, and what difference does early diagnosis make in terms of treatment and prognosis?
  1. Awareness and Culture
    How have you approached raising awareness, shifting cultural attitudes, and encouraging men to take their health seriously?
  1. 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
  1. What we know about people’s mental health during midlife.
  2. Inequalities in support and how to reduce them.
  3. 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
  1. Prevention Strategies
    What preventative measures should be prioritised in midlife to reduce the risk of mental health decline?
  1. Broader Impact
    How do midlife mental health challenges affect work performance, relationships, and family life?
  1. Stigma and Cultural Barriers
    What are the most effective ways to break down stigma around mental health, especially among high-functioning individuals?
  1. Digital Tools
    What apps or digital platforms have proven most useful in mental health management or early intervention?
  1. 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

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