It’s a common feature of any conference about health system development: the keynote address about the coming trends in health.  We’ve all heard it, haven’t we?  An ageing population, the rise of multi-morbidity and chronic illness, costs rising, not enough staff, where to invest scarce resources, the promise of new technology.  These themes are now so familiar – almost banal – I sometimes wonder if we really hear the message anymore.    

Once in a while, however, you hear someone who makes this topic really come alive.  Someone who has every bit of relevant data well organised and superbly linked, someone who applies all the analysis to a fundamental question: what should we do?

Just a few days ago, Twitter pointed me to a video of just such a person.  His name is Professor Chris Whitty, and he happens to be the current Chief Medical Officer (CMO) for England.  In the UK there are four CMOs, corresponding to the four countries of the union, each of whom has the responsibility to advise government ministers on all matters concerning health.  Professor Whitty already has a long and very distinguished cv, but CMO is probably most demanding role he has taken on to date.  He is clearly the right person for the job.

I highly recommend taking some time – around 25 minutes if you just watch his talk, closer to an hour if you also take in the audience questions – to hear what he has to say.  This presentation took place at the Nuffield Trust in London, as part of their Summit 2020, and is focused (of course) on health and healthcare in England.  That said, Professor Whitty makes extensive use of international data, and his message is likely to apply to many countries around the world.

No spoilers, but I will say this: there are some surprises in his talk.  Is the burden on health systems really to do with ageing populations?  What has been the least acknowledged challenge for hospitals in recent years?  Has austerity in the UK caused life expectancy to stall?

These questions, and the answers proposed, are worth the price of admission, as we say.  But the best moment is the final slide, which has just two columns with lists of what the health system in England does well, and where it needs a radical re-think if it’s going to meet existing and coming health needs. 

If you are planning the future of healthcare and healthcare infrastructure, and you are wondering what to do, take a look at this talk.

Enjoy!

More info: https://www.nuffieldtrust.org.uk/spotlight/nuffield-trust-summit-2020