| 3 July 2025
NHS ConfedExpo is the UK’s leading health and care conference, dedicated to driving innovation and improving care for patients and the public. As the largest event of its kind, NHS ConfedExpo brings together over 5,000 leaders, professionals and partners from across the health and care sector to collaborate, share insights and develop innovative solutions to deliver high quality care for all.
As the UK Sector Skills Council for Health, this is an event we look forward to every year as it offers a unique opportunity to be in a room with thousands of people working across the NHS and wider health care sector. Over the course of two days, we spoke to hundreds of delegates who shared their lived experience as well as the challenges and opportunities they were facing – some universal, some unique.
Workforce optimisation
With the 10 Year Health Plan yet to be revealed, there continues to be a growing pressure on the sector to deliver more with limited resources. There’s an increased understanding that workforce optimisation isn’t just a necessity, but a strategic imperative. Conversations have shifted from a focus on recruitment to a more strategic approach, one that emphasises how to effectively utilise, support, and future-proof the workforce by optimising existing resources. Organisations are increasingly looking to leverage current skills and capabilities to meet rising demands, all while maintaining the highest standards of patient safety.
Structural reform adds another layer of complexity, requiring careful planning to ensure patient care is not compromised. At the heart of this lies effective workforce planning, a crucial element of successful reform. Aligning workforce capacity and capability with new organisational goals, anticipating future needs, and managing transitions smoothly will all depend on having robust, forward-thinking workforce strategies.
To navigate this period of significant change, workforce optimisation must move from being a reactive response to a proactive, central pillar of health system transformation.
Compassionate leadership
At the heart of effective leadership in times of uncertainty and change, is compassion. Leaders need to create safe, inclusive and welcoming environments where individuals feel valued and connected. By fostering and cultivating a supportive environment, leaders can help reduce the negative effects that often accompany change, such as stress and anxiety. This compassionate approach supports building resilience among teams and staff, enabling them to navigate challenges more effectively.
In healthcare, where the pace of change can be rapid and staff are working in high risk / trauma saturated environments, compassionate leadership is especially important. When leaders show genuine care and understanding, they help create trust and unity within their teams. This not only improves morale but also encourages people to support one another, fostering a sense of collaboration and shared purpose. There’s also benefits on retention too. When people feel valued, heard and supported, they’re less likely to leave their position, and less likely to take sick leave. Compassionate leadership does not mean avoiding accountability; rather, it balances kindness with clear expectations, helping teams stay focused and motivated even during difficult times.
Digital transformation
A continued focus remains on digital transformation, technology and AI and how these technologies will be used to revolutionise the healthcare sector through data driven solutions. Conversations explored how AI is helping support patient engagement and emphasised the importance of balancing a bold digital vision with practical, inclusive steps to make healthcare more human-centred and accessible.
As we continue to navigate the challenges and changes facing the healthcare sector, one thing is imperative – the healthcare workforce needs to be supported, structured and skilled efficiently and effectively. This needs to be the first step of reform, to enable best possible services to deliver safe patient care.