The University of Westminster’s Health Innovation and Wellbeing (HIW) research community has held an insightful event discussing the NHS 10-Year Transformation Plan, bringing together colleagues from across the University alongside leaders from the NHS, research and policy sectors.
The NHS Fit for the Future: 10-Year Health Plan for England is a £29 billion transformation strategy focused on three foundational shifts: moving care from hospitals to the community, transitioning from analogue to digital systems and shifting from reactive sickness treatment to proactive prevention. The comprehensive strategy outlines sweeping changes to how care is designed, funded and experienced across the country.
The panel and roundtable event featured speakers from NHS England, the Ministry of Defence, the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and Westminster academics, who joined together to discuss the plan and explore collaborations that could be aligned with the NHS transformation agenda.
The event attracted colleagues from all colleges across the University, reflecting a broad range of expertise and disciplines, creating the opportunity for colleagues to connect, exchange ideas and develop new partnerships.
Key themes of the day included digital innovation and AI, improving health equity, strengthening community engagement and trust, and the importance of co-production in healthcare design. Speakers highlighted the role of academia in generating evidence, supporting evaluation, implementation and shaping policy, while acknowledging ongoing challenges around funding, collaboration and translating research into practice.
The Health Innovation and Wellbeing community is led by Dr Tom Nadarzynski, Reader in Digital Health, and Dr Nina Smyth, Reader in Psychology at the School of Social Sciences, and focuses on developing solutions to better manage and prevent disease, helping populations stay healthier at home, in healthcare settings and at the workplace.
Dr Nadarzynski said: "Healthcare is transforming before our eyes. In alignment with the future of the NHS, the University of Westminster is actively studying and shaping integrated models of care, with a focus on social justice. Our duty is to equip the next generation of practitioners to lead a health service driven by proactive prevention, humanistic digital innovation and a commitment to tackling health inequalities. From our local communities to the global stage, we are ready to serve the future of healthcare."
This event contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 3: Good Health and Wellbeing and 17: Partnerships for the Goals. Since 2019, the University of Westminster has used the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions to help students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society.
Find out more about research groups and centres at the University of Westminster.
Related articles
