Chris Winchester

***Ipsos UK and Imperial College Health Partners Primary care transformation report published*** Today NHS London Region publishes a report detailing the outcome and findings from a year long in-depth deliberative engagement programme involving patients (inc. less heard groups), public and staff from across the capital. Primary care services need to evolve and the system bravely chose to involve Londoners and the workforce in decision making by sharing some of the dilemmas and trade-offs relating to potential new ways of working. The public's recommendations are clear, and here are just a few of the highlights: ➡️ Digital access to primary care should be rolled out to allow convenient access to those who can engage in digital access routes, while also alleviating pressure on the system....however, digital platforms need to work which means serious investment in the infrastructure (i.e. ideally one NHS App) and capacity there that supports patient choice. ➡️ Triage should consider social factors (if they are known) alongside clinical factors, to ensure vulnerabilities, access barriers, and additional needs are considered when deciding onward care. ➡️ It is sensible to avoid every patient seeing a GP for every health need and utilisation of the wider primary care team is the way forward....however, patients need to understand what these (new) roles are, the skills these professionals have and still be given the choice to see someone else if they are not comfortable. ➡️ GP continuity will always be important to some, so people should reserve the right to see their/a GP if they want to, while recognising that this might mean waiting longer to be seen and therefore patients should be given a choice. It was an honour to co-lead this work, alongside Amy Darlington with Sadie Myhill and Jenny Gisborne. A huge heartfelt thanks goes to our wonderful commissioners Dr Agatha Nortley-Meshe, Will Huxter and Dr Charlotte Benjamin for steering the way and being bold, to the many stakeholders across the NHS and supporting sectors that informed the work, to the many skilled facilitators who supported the process (Ella Fryer-Smith, Anna Beckett, Naomi Day, James Wickett-Whyte, Chris Massey, Brian Parry, Kate Duxbury, Katharine Hurwitz, Joanna Scott, Mary Battley) and last but not least to the 100 Londoners who spent over three days grappling with the complexities, voicing what mattered most to them and cocreating the incredibly granular and useful policy recommendations. Read the report here: https://lnkd.in/eGX5BZ6p

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Uniting the UK’s Health Data: A Huge Opportunity for Society’ by Professor Cathie Sudlow OBE https://lnkd.in/eW3jgjTY A review of the UK health data landscape commissioned by the Chief Medical Officer for England, the UK National Statistician and NHS England’s National Director for Transformation. The review highlights ‘the importance of bringing together data from multiple sources of data to help improve the treatment of current patients, ensuring they get the best diagnosis and the most appropriate treatment, and be sued operationally to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the NHS and health and social care systems for all’   It’s great to see UK LLC discussed (p131) as the national secure data environment for longitudinal population-based research together with a data linkage service and resource to its partner studies and a simple one-application process to UK-based researchers applying to access linked longitudinal data. As a result, it enables cross-sector research and supports researchers to respond to immediate and future policy needs ‘The greater availability of large-scale, diverse linked data from across multiple cohorts will help researchers to study rarer outcomes and seldom reached populations’.

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Sickle cell disease (SCD) significantly impacts thousands in the UK, yet treatment options remain limited. In honour of World Sickle Cell Day, we're showcasing our ongoing efforts to empower healthcare professionals with the knowledge and resources they need to better understand and manage sickle cell disease. We recently convened a 7-month digital advisory board with 11 leading UK clinicians, specialising in adult or paediatric care. Their insights proved invaluable help in supporting a successful NICE submission for our client, ultimately securing NHS funding for their medication and offering hope for 4,000 patients. We're thrilled that our contributions are empowering patients with sickle cell disease to take a step closer towards better managing their condition. #sicklecelldisease #SCD #NHS #clinicalresearch #newtreatments #patientcare Read more about the potential to revolutionise medical treatment: 

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Yesterday The King's Fund published the report, “NHS and Life Sciences Industry Partnerships: Collaborating to Improve Care,” highlighting a critical opportunity for the UK health and care system. As the NHS navigates one of the most challenging periods in its history—marked by workforce pressures, financial strain, and operational challenges—partnerships with the life sciences industry have never been more essential. In my role, I see first-hand the transformative potential of collaboration between the NHS, the NIHR and the life sciences sector. These partnerships bring vital resources, expertise, and innovation into the system, enabling us to adopt best practices, create more sustainable care pathways, and drive preventive care. By leveraging the strengths of the life sciences sector, we can ensure patients and the public remain at the heart of these efforts, delivering meaningful health and economic benefits. The report underscores some critical points: ⭐ Trust and Transparency: While scepticism around industry motivations exists, transparency and safeguards in partnership projects are key to addressing concerns and building trust. ⭐ Patient-Centric Outcomes: Partnerships must prioritise patient and public benefit, ensuring meaningful involvement in design and delivery. Hello our Patient Engagement in Clinical Design service. ⭐ Strategic Vision: Beyond individual projects, there is an opportunity to embed partnerships more strategically, deepening mutual understanding between the NHS and life sciences, and fostering an environment that drives innovation and economic growth. This approach aligns with the government’s ambitions for a “mission-driven” NHS—fit for the future and catalysing economic growth. It also positions the UK as a global leader in health research and innovation. At the NIHR Research Delivery Network, we are committed to building partnerships that enable the NHS and wider ecosystem to be primed for future challenges while delivering immediate improvements in care. By fostering collaboration, we can help unlock the full potential of the life sciences sector to benefit patients, the public, the NHS, and the wider economy. #LifeSciences #HealthcareInnovation #NHS #Collaboration #HealthResearch #BusinessDevelopment #PublicHealth #EconomicGrowth #PatientCentricCare #NIHR

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Frontier’s Nick Woolley will join the speaker panel at Understanding the economic and regulatory challenges of cancer prevention by Consilium Scientific and Cancer Research UK (CRUK) on Thursday 14th November at 5pm online. The conference will explore critical questions, such as: 🔷 What regulatory and economic barriers are slowing progress in cancer prevention? 🔷 Do we need new models of health economics to better support prevention efforts? 🔷 What challenges do behavioural and interventional strategies face, and how can we overcome them? 📌 Find out more and book your place here: https://okt.to/bOEr1i #PublicHealth #CancerPrevention #Oncology

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Very relevant to both Australia & Aotearoa. We do need to have more conversations like this here

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“Driving health equity in cancer: Practical examples from Cancer Alliances” is a new report by MSD in the UK which demonstrates the progress Cancer Alliances in England are making towards addressing health inequalities. The publication brings together a collection of case studies of local projects within Cancer Alliances across the country that aim to overcome the health inequalities in #cancer care and outcomes in their area, while also setting out some practical steps that can be taken. You can find out more below and read the case studies in the full report here 👉 https://lnkd.in/erZP_KGv

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What sets BRILLIANT apart as an Education Event? I spoke to Andrew Croydon of The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) and asked him about their reasons for being involved. 1. Motivation for Attending:  "We are excited to attend the BRILLIANT Early Years to Careers event because it provides a unique opportunity to connect with educators and extend our commitment to invest in education as an investment in the future ."   2. Hopes for Achievement:  "By participating in this event, we hope to inspire teachers with our broad STEM education resources, alongside insights into the pharmaceutical industry, to help teachers better inform and motivate their students about career opportunities in this field."   3. Benefits for Teachers:  "This event is a fantastic platform for teachers to gain a deeper understanding of an innovation-based industry, learning about the industry’s latest advancements and key initiatives, and discovering how to incorporate this knowledge into curricula to inspire the next generation."   4. Message to Teachers:  "We want teachers to know that our UK pharmaceutical sector is committed to pioneering new treatments and improving lives. We believe that by sharing our work and passion, we can help educators inspire students to pursue rewarding careers based on informed choices."   At BRILLIANT, we create a unique space where industry leaders and educators come together. This collaboration is vital for bridging the gap between current educational practices and future job market needs. Our goal is to prepare children for the jobs of tomorrow. By aligning educational strategies with industry demands, we ensure that students acquire the critical skills required in priority sectors. My message to other industry leaders ... Be part of it! www.brilliantfestival.com

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The way to the precision medicine revolution.......utilise and invest in the specialist medical laboratory science workforce who are experts in diagnostic health delivery. True governance and direction with reinvestment in a ready-made specialist scientific workforce and resource = improvement and equitable precision health outcomes for patients. Not that difficult is it?

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Join me at 5pm UK today, 14th Nov, for a webinar on "Understanding the economic and regulatory challenges of cancer prevention to unlock future opportunities", with an all-star cast! Click here to join: https://lnkd.in/eVxnwGwZ Details below: An estimated 22 million people worldwide will have cancer in 2030. Policy goals of reducing cancer mortality often default to a discourse of advancing therapeutic strategies, strongly supported by the pharmaceutical industry. However, the impact of cancer therapeutics on survival remains limited. A cancer diagnosis and its treatment, successful or not, impose a heavy burden on patients and their loved ones. Preventing cancers from arising would reduce mortality and the negative social and psychological impact of this disease. Current estimates suggest that at least 30-50% of cancers are preventable with opportunities to go further by better understanding the underlying mechanisms of cancer genesis and risk. In this shared Cancer Research UK and Consilium Scientific webinar, experts in broad aspects of health policy and economics will discuss the historical funding limitations of cancer prevention research compared to therapeutics. What are the current regulatory and economic barriers to advancing cancer prevention? Do we need novel models of health economics to promote cancer prevention? What are the challenges of behavioural and interventional prevention strategies? How can they be overcome? Join us at this webinar focused on highlighting the growing global importance of cancer prevention and the vast opportunities ahead.

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All of this is spot on. However, I would add, beyond research, if we moved toward a position where health & social care data were routinely ingested into safe havens, linked (ideally within integrated records), and made accessible to service managers and clinicians across primary and secondary health care, private/third sector care homes, and Health & Social Care Partnerships (H&SCPs), we could transform care outcomes, whilst better utilising existing resources. The siloed nature of the health & social care data landscape, across Scotland and the UK as a whole, is a barrier to research, but it also impedes service provision.

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💡 *HEALTH ECONOMICS & HTA* 💡 At ELYRA, we help shape a strong value proposition narrative for your healthcare innovations. Our *Health Economics and HTA* services offer: - Economic modeling - HTA strategy development and support - Evidence gap analysis - Digital tools for strategic insights We’re here to support you in bringing value-based solutions across therapeutic areas. 🌐 Learn more about how we can elevate your strategy: www.elyrasolutions.com   📧 Contact us: info@elyrasolutions.com #HealthEconomics #HTA #Healthcare #ValueProposition #EconomicModeling #DigitalHealth #ElyraSolutions #Pharma #Biotech #EmergingMarkets #Consulting #HealthcareStrategy

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Alongside Prostate Cancer UK, we are proud to have sponsored the "Reducing Variation in Prostate Cancer Care” policy report. Organised and published by Public Policy Projects (PPP), the report highlights the need to address inequalities in prostate cancer outcomes across the UK and calls for immediate actions to reduce the high variation in diagnosis, treatment access and patient support in prostate cancer care through multidisciplinary collaboration. Launched at the PPP’s Cancer Care Conference this month in London, the report draws attention to key insights including: 🔍 Early Diagnosis Disparities: A staggering 35% of patients in Scotland are diagnosed too late for curative treatment, compared to just 12.5% in London. (Source: data from Prostate Cancer UK) 👨🏾‍🦱 Risk Factors: Black men and those with a family history of prostate, breast, or ovarian cancers are at higher risk, emphasising the need for targeted awareness campaigns. 🩺 PSA (prostate-specific antigen) Testing: Men over 50 can request PSA tests from their GPs. However, public awareness on testing eligibility is lacking, particularly among at-risk populations. 📋 Guideline Complexity: GPs face confusion due to overlapping guidelines from NICE and the Prostate Cancer Risk Management Programme, contributing to regional variations in care. Recommendations from the report underscore the necessity for: • Clinical guidance from NHSE on risk stratification that is essential to ensure high-risk populations can be diagnosed quickly and moved to treatment • Bolder, large-scale public awareness campaigns co-created with communities promoting informed decision making about the PSA test to remove barriers to testing and reach men at higher risk and people living in areas of deprivation • Clear, consistent, regularly reviewed and updated guidelines on PSA testing for all GPs to ensure eligible men are not turned away • Appropriately trained healthcare professionals to support patients through the care pathway Dr Simon Wyatt, our Senior Medical Advisor for Oncology at Bayer UK, joined a panel discussion at the launch conference with medical professionals, patient organisation representatives and health system experts where he elaborated on how the industry could contribute to help reform prostate cancer care pathways and tackle the backlog by offering on-the-ground experience, insights and data. Fayez El-Shakfeh, Head of Patient Access, Bayer UK & Ireland, said: “Our sincere thanks to all involved in the development of this report. At Bayer, addressing inequalities is not just a priority; it’s a commitment we take seriously. We are dedicated to collaborating with the broader prostate cancer care community to drive meaningful change for all men affected by prostate cancer." #ProstateCancerCare #HealthInequalities #AddressingHealthInequalities #MensHealth #BayerUKI Photo Credit: Politics Home

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🚀 Funding Opportunity: Innovate UK’s Digital Therapeutic XR for Mental Health Programme 🚀 Innovate UK is investing up to £3.7 million in projects developing digital therapeutic extended reality (XR) solutions to support mental healthcare services. This programme aims to advance innovative XR applications that can be scaled as part of the UK’s formal mental healthcare ecosystem. 🔹 Funding Available: £200,000 - £300,000 per project 🔹 Deadline: Wednesday 15 January 2025, 11:00 am UK time 🔹 Eligibility: UK-registered organisations developing XR-based digital therapeutic solutions for mental health Project Requirements XR Application in Mental Health: Create digital therapeutic solutions using XR, including VR, AR, mixed reality, haptics, immersive audio, and holograms. Focus on Moderate to Severe Mental Health Conditions: Develop solutions that provide real-world benefits for those living with moderate to severe mental health challenges, improving quality of life, employment, and daily activities. Scalable Solutions Across Clinical Levels: Propose solutions suitable for any stage in the care pathway with a clear potential for regulatory approval and wide-scale adoption. Acclivity Ventures offers expert grant-writing support to help UK organisations craft high-quality applications, boosting their chances of securing funding and making a real impact in mental healthcare innovation. https://lnkd.in/eEiFCEJZ

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