NHS ConfedExpo 2025: a platform for change in UK health and care
Ella Day | June 24, 2025 | News story | Medical Communications |Â Â Accenture, AstraZeneca, Corporate, Excellence in healthcare Partnership (EHP) Awards, Manchester, NHS ConfedExpo, NHS Confederation, NHS England, Novartis UK, Visions4HealthÂ
This year’s NHS ConfedExpo took place on 11 to 12 June at Manchester Central, bringing together around 9,000 attendees. Among them were over 5,000 health and care leaders, with roughly one in three attendees representing C‑suite roles. The programme featured more than 500 speakers and over 150 exhibitors, establishing it as the UK’s largest health and care conference.
NHS ConfedExpo connects leaders, professionals and partners from across the health and care sector to collaborate, share insights and develop innovative solutions to improve service delivery and patient outcomes. The event features keynote addresses, panel discussions and interactive workshops. It is delivered in partnership between the NHS Confederation – a leading voice for healthcare policy and advocacy – and NHS England, which oversees the delivery of healthcare services in England.
Delegates included senior leaders from the NHS, integrated care boards, local government and the wider public sector, contributing to a broad spectrum of discussion on operational challenges, system reform and leadership. Speakers included Sohail Abbas, director of population health and inequalities; Kadra Abdinasir, associate director of policy at the Centre for Mental Health; and Ronke Akerele, director of staff experience and engagement at NHS England. The event was opened by Lord Victor Adebowale, chair of the NHS Confederation, who gave a compelling address on NHS culture, current pressures and long-term vision.
The exhibition floor featured industry leaders such as Accenture, AstraZeneca UK, Novartis UK, Google, IQVIA and Microsoft UK. Many also hosted learning theatres and sessions focused on technology, digital transformation and workforce innovation.
Key themes included community and co-design, highlighting the importance of public insight in shaping reform, and digital transformation as a means for system-level change. Other focal points included tackling health inequalities, especially among marginalised populations, and exploring the potential of devolution to enable more responsive, localised service delivery.
Reflecting the spirit of collaboration promoted at ConfedExpo, PMGroup Worldwide and Visions4Health have announced the Excellence in Healthcare Partnerships (EHP) Awards 2026. Launched at the event, these awards will honour outstanding cross-sector partnerships that have delivered measurable improvements for patients and systems. Winning entries will benefit from industry recognition, increased visibility and the opportunity to share best practice across the sector.
This year’s NHS ConfedExpo reiterated the importance of strategic innovation, multi-sector and community collaboration and evidence-based transformation in shaping a resilient and equitable NHS. In the context of the government’s pending 10-Year Health Plan, discussions made clear the collective desire for reform rooted in partnership, prevention and long-term thinking.
Ella Day
24/6/25
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