Westminster
Diet & Health Forum

With the Office for National Statistics reporting a 72% rise in Clostridium difficile related deaths in 2006, and as the Healthcare Commission publish their Annual Health Check for 2008/09, which will include an in-depth look at healthcare associated infections (HCAIs), this seminar will examine issues around the control and tackling of HCAIs, and what more can be done to provide a better service and ensure patient safety.  This meeting will bring key stakeholders together with policy makers from government and Parliament to discuss how healthcare associated infections can be prevented, how this will be implemented across the NHS, and the next steps in improving patient safety.

Planned Sessions look at the latest thinking on HCAIs in the UK; the role of different agencies in tackling HCAIs; the role of new equipment, materials and products in improving HCAI infection rates; and the role of surveillance and assessment of NHS and other healthcare organisations in the prevention and treatment of HCAIs.

We are delighted that Janice Stevens, Director, MRSA/Cleaner Hospitals Programme, Department of Health, and Marcia Fry, Head of Operational Development at the Healthcare Commission, will be delivering keynote addresses at this seminar.

Other speakers so far include:  Professor Peter Borriello, Chair, Rapid Review Panel; Vanessa Bourne, Head of Special Projects, The Patients Association; Dr Jeremy Dennison, Medical Advisor to Pfizer Anti-Infectives; Dr Georgia Duckworth, National HCAI & AMR Surveillance Lead, Health Protection Agency; Peter Ellingworth, Vice President and General Manager, ConvaTec, and Chairman, the Association of British Healthcare Industries; Martin Fletcher, Chief Executive, National Patient Safety Agency; Rosemary Gallagher, Adviser Infection Prevention and Control, Professional Nursing Department, Royal College of Nursing; Dr David Jenkins, Director of Infection Prevention and Control at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust; Dr Elizabeth Jenner, Expert in Infection Control Nursing, and Principal Lecturer, University of Hertfordshire; Karen Jennings, National Secretary for Health, Unison; Andrew Large, Director General, Cleaning and Support Services Association; Wendy Lawson, Lead Pharmacist, Infectious Diseases, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, Hammersmith Hospital; Sue Lewis, Director of Nursing and Operations and Deputy Chief Executive, Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Trust; John McConnell, Editor, Lancet Infectious Diseases; and Laura Probert, East & South Kent Regional Representative, National Concern for Healthcare Infections.

Andrew Lansley MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Health, and Greg Mulholland MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Minister for Health, have kindly agreed to chair this seminar.

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With a recent Which? survey revealing that a third of patients are not happy with the quality of food they receive in hospital, this seminar will examine the state of hospital food service.

This seminar will examine the progress and barriers in providing nutritional food service in the care sector. Stakeholders from the front line of healthcare will come together with policy makers, industry and interest groups to discuss the DH Action Plan, Improving Nutritional Care, as well as the potential role of the Health and Social Care Bill in improving the quality of hospital food.

Sessions will also look at:

• Current progress and what more can be done to improve the quality and nutritional value of food in Britain’s hospitals;
• Whether the Action Plan and the Bill offer an opportunity for far-reaching and achievable change;
• Whether a statutory regulator is needed to monitor hospital food provision; and
• Food sustainability and best practice in the public sector.

We are delighted that Richard Wilson, Director of Nutrition and Dietetics, King’s College Hospital, & Chair, Awareness Delivery Sub-group, Nutrition Action Plan, Department of Health; and Gordon Lishman, Chair, Nutrition Action Plan, Department of Health, & Director General, Age Concern, have agreed to deliver keynote addresses. Earl Howe, Opposition Spokesperson for Health and Social Services; and Dr Richard Taylor MP, Member of the Health Select Committee have kindly agreed to chair this seminar.

Other confirmed speakers include: Jamie Black, Business Development Director, Compass Group; Rosie Blackburn, Project Officer, Good Food on the Public Plate, Sustain: Alliance for Better Food and Farming; Mike Duckett, Catering Manager, Royal Brompton Hospital and Harefield NHS Trust; Debbie Dzik-Jurasz, Nutrition Now Project Lead, Royal College of Nursing; Dr Rekha Elaswarapu, Lead – Older people, Healthcare Commission; Professor Marinos Elia, Professor of Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism, University of Southampton; Caroline Lecko, Nutrition Lead, Safer Practice Department, National Patient Safety Agency; Justine Sharpe, Head of Nutrition & Dietetics Services, Mayday University Hospital & Croydon PCT; Sarah Sleet, Chief Executive, Coeliac UK; Ros Speight, National Secretary, National Association of Care Catering, & Chair of Training & Guidance Delivery Sub-group, Nutrition Action Plan, Department of Health; Dr Sumantra Ray, Senior Clinical Research & Teaching Fellow, University of Dundee College of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing; Kevan Wallace, National Vice Chairman, Hospital Caterers Association & Assistant Hotel Services Manager, Frimley Park Hospital NHS Trust; and Toni Williams, Chief Dietitian for Food Policy, United Bristol Healthcare NHS Trust & Chair, Food Counts.

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This seminar will examine the latest evidence on the issues around packaging and product damage, aiming to stimulate useful discussion on waste reduction, efficiency in the food industry and the role of science-based innovation. Additionally, it will examine the environmental and financial cost of food waste as well as some possible approaches to tackling the issues, including appropriate portion sizes, longer shelf lives, re-sealable packaging and anaerobic digestion. 

We are delighted that Callton Young, Director of Sustainability and Competitiveness, Food and Drink Federation; and Dr Richard Swannell, Director of Retail and Organics Programme,  Waste & Resource Action Programme will be delivering a keynote address at this seminar.

Additional speakers include:Jane Bickerstaffe, Director, Industry Council for Packaging and the Environment; Joy Blizzard, Waste Initiatives Officer, Local Authority Recycling Advisory Committee; Marcus Hill, Founder, London Bio Packaging; and Professor Geoff Le Grys, Professor of Food Management and Head of the Food Innovation Research Centre, Sheffield Hallam University; Dr Nicki Souter, Campaign Manager, Waste Aware Scotland; and Dr Michael Warhurst, Senior Waste Campaigner, Friends of the Earth. Other senior speakers have been approached and we are awaiting confirmation of diaries.

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This seminar will examine issues around the provision and quality of mental health services, following on from the National Service Framework and as the Darzi Review of the NHS is published. This meeting will bring key stakeholders together with policy makers from government and Parliament to discuss what can be done to address inequalities in the system, and next steps for improving care.

We are delighted that Professor Louis Appleby, National Director for Mental Health, Department of Health; and Kathryn Tyson, Programme Director for Mental Health, Department of Health, will be giving keynote addresses at this seminar.

Dr Jo Smith, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, and Joint National Early Intervention Lead will also be speaking at this event.

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Where and how food is produced is a source of increasing concern for government, with the trends shaping food consumption and production having a growing impact on society, the economy and the environment. How are consumers, retailers and farmers affected by changing local and global food markets? This event will bring key stakeholders together with policy makers to discuss latest evidence on the issues around the rising cost of food, the role of competition and efficiency in the supply chain.

Peter Freeman, Chairman, Competition Commission; and Lucy Neville-Rolfe, Executive Director, Legal and Corporate Affairs, Tesco will be delivering keynote addresses at this event.

Additonal speakers include: Gregory Barrow, Senior Public Affairs Officer, World Food Programme; Dominic Dyer, Chief Executive, Crop Protection Association; Vicki Hird, Food & Farming Campaigner, Friends of the Earth; Terry Jones, Head of London Office, National Farmers’ Union; James Lowman, Chief Executive, Association of Convenience Stores; and Andrew Taylor, Inquiry Director, Groceries Market Investigation, Competition Commission and Callton Young, Director of Sustainability and Competitiveness, Food and Drink Federation.

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This seminar will examine issues around the provision and quality of maternity services, as the Darzi Review of the NHS is published, looking in part at maternity and new born care, and following on from the Maternity Matters framework and the Healthcare Commision’s review of maternity services. This meeting will bring key stakeholders together with policy makers from government and Parliament to discuss what can be done to address inequalities in the system, the role of the midwife, and next steps for improving care.

We are delighted that Dr Sheila Shribman, National Clinical Director for Children, Young People and Maternity Services, Department of Health; Sue Eardley, Head of Children's Strategy, Healthcare Commission; and Jane Verity, Head of Maternity, First Years and Families, Department of Health, will be giving a keynote address at this seminar.

Other confirmed speakers include: Professor Sabaratnam Arulkumaran, President, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists; Duncan Fisher, Chief Executive, The Fatherhood Institute; Sara Johnson, Head of Child Health and Maternity Care, National Patient Safety Agency; Professor Paul Lewis, Chair, Nursing and Midwifery Council's Midwifery Committee; Belinda Phipps, Chief Executive, National Childbirth Trust; and Louise Silverton, Deputy General Secretary, Royal College of Midwives.

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Five years in to the National Programme for IT, just two years away from the 2010 ’deadline’ for implementation, and with Chief Executive Richard Granger due to depart from Connecting for Health in 2008, this seminar will bring together stakeholders in industry and the health service with policy makers in government and Parliament to discuss progress of the NHS IT project so far.  Other themes will include what needs to be done to continue and improve implementation, and steps to be taken to ensure that the 2010 targets are met.

As the joint Department of Health/Home Office report into supermarket alcohol pricing is published, and as the National Audit Office publish their value for money study of health services for alcohol harm reduction, this timely seminar will examine the findings of both reports, and what more can be done to tackle alcohol misuse.

The meeting will bring key stakeholders together with policy makers from government and Parliament to discuss latest evidence on the health and social costs of excessive alcohol consumption, the impact of packaging and pricing on drinking habits, and the way forward for alcohol policy.

Crispin Acton, Programme Manager, Alcohol Policy Team, Department of Health, will be delivering a keynote address at this seminar.

Planned sessions will look at:

• The current situation, focusing on who is at risk of alcohol misuse and why;
• The health and social consequences of alcohol misuse;
• The way forward for alcohol policy, and the best way to reduce alcohol-related harm; and
• Whether the price and packaging of alcohol makes it more susceptible to misuse.

With the NHS and services for end of life care attempting to integrate to provide more complete care, this seminar will look at how palliative care and hospice care can be made more accessible and whether the NHS can afford to offer end of life care free at the point of need. As the Palliative Care Bill enters Parliamentary Committee, this timely seminar will bring together stakeholders and representatives from across the industry to discuss and move forward thinking on this important issue.

With a “wholesale review” of the NHS announced by the Brown government, this seminar will bring together stakeholders from industry, patients groups and the health services with key policy makers from Whitehall and Parliament. The Westminster Health Forum is taking soundings from interested parties in structuring the agenda to focus on the most pertinent areas for discussion, but expect sessions on the future of healthcare provision in the UK to focus on NHS structures and facilities, modernisation of procedure and policies, staffing and employment practises, commissioning, and finance.

• Poverty and the food divide
• Salt Reduction Targets
• Nutrition & Behaviour
• Elderly Nutrition & Dementia
• Nutrition & Public Health
• Water usage
• Transportation in the food industry
• Nutrition in schools
• Mental Health
• The Cost of Drugs – from development to market
• Children and Care
• The role of the pharmacy
• The role of prevention & early diagnosis in healthcare
• Health & Social Care in the UK