Morning, Thursday, 2nd October 2025
Online
This conference will discuss next steps for improving urgent and emergency care services in England.
Delegates will discuss the way forward for addressing immediate and longstanding issues in light of a range of recent policy developments, including NHS England’s recently published Urgent and Emergency Care Plan 2025/26 26, which sets out plans to improve efficiency, flow and accountability of urgent and emergency care services, with targets for response, performance and adoption of the Federated Data Platform. It also follows the Government’s 10-Year Health Plan, and the 3% real-terms growth in NHS day-to-day spending announced in the 2025 Spending Review.
Targets, capacity & winter planning
Those attending will examine updated targets for admission, transfer and discharge, alongside wider priorities and practicalities for easing the movement of patients through urgent and emergency care, and for improving efficiency and accountability across services. Sessions will look at the role of accident and emergency data-sharing at the hospital level in improving accountability and transparency. We expect discussion to reflect stakeholder concerns that targets could be more ambitious, that pressures on bed capacity remain unresolved, and that long-term funding and delivery plans will be needed to support change. Implementation of the Federated Data Platform and connected care records will be discussed, alongside requirements and implementation of digital infrastructure to support care planning and system coordination ahead of winter.
Community delivery & care coordination
The agenda will also look at next steps for community and primary care services coordination to support prevention and reduce pressure on accident and emergency. Areas for discussion include neighbourhood health teams, the role of ambulance services, and developing shared decision-making. Delegates will assess the way forward for Same Day Emergency Care and Urgent Treatment Centres, and what will be needed in terms of their placement, clarity of purpose and accessibility to support system aims. Public awareness and education will be considered, including strategies to improve health literacy and reduce unnecessary demand.
Patient-centred care & workforce capacity
Further sessions examine the delivery of more patient-centred care, including new trial payments for patient choice, the use of care plans for high-risk groups, and how access and support can be improved while patients wait for emergency treatment. Priorities for therapy and dietetic input for frail inpatients will be considered, alongside options for preventive models, such as flu vaccination and health checks. Discussion will also focus on workforce capacity, training and career pathways, as well as system alignment to support safe workloads - with the Government recently announcing a new graduate guarantee scheme to boost job opportunities for nurses and midwives. Issues in mental health and social care will also be addressed, including the role of residential care, early intervention, and integration of physical and mental health needs.
NHS App, records & patient confidence
Delegates will assess the way forward for digital transformation, including the future role of the NHS App in booking, triage and reducing waiting times, and challenges of uptake among patients with limited digital access. Issues around usability, confidence, and demand on services will also be explored. Further sessions will examine virtual care, the expansion of shared records, and priorities for investment, workforce training and system interoperability, alongside stakeholder concerns about safety, data quality and public trust.
All delegates will be able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices, and more widely. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates. As well as key stakeholders, those due to attend include parliamentary pass-holders from the House of Lords and officials from the Department of Health and Social Care; Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency; and National Audit Office.
