Our first annual Partnership Council meeting provided an excellent opportunity for formal and informal networking.
More than 70 people attended, drawn from across our region and representing a wide range of stakeholders including NHS trusts, academic institutions and industry.
They listened to presentations from leaders of two of our ten clinical networks – integrating mental and physical care (Michael Yousif) and new models of out-of-hospital care for frail older people (Dan Lasserson).
You can see all the presentations here.
Oxford AHSN Chief Executive Gary A Ford CBE highlighted the strengths of our region including a thriving life sciences sector. He set out the foundations for future progress including access to robust high quality data, informed and engaged patients and empowered staff.
He said: “We should not fear failure but learn from the things that don’t work to develop really excellent care – the NHS has not been good at this in the past. To quote Bill Clinton – we should celebrate success, but it is more important to heed the lessons of failure.”
The formal part of the event ended with a wide-ranging Q&A session chaired by our Chair Nigel Keen. Topics covered included:
- How to make best use of data
- The interconnectedness of our clinical networks
- Sharing research
- Working more efficiently for patient benefit
The discussions continued after the formal part of the meeting ended – some of it around the poster display area which included recent SBRI Healthcare competition winners.
One of the exhibitors, Dr Al Edwards, Lecturer in Pharmaceutics at the Reading School of Pharmacy, said: ““I met with vital contacts from industry, hospital and pharmacy education – and planned a small clinical study – all before dinner.”
A video summary of the meeting – which took place at the Magdalen Centre, Oxford Science Park, on 18 June – will be available shortly.