Events Archives - Bevan Commission

The Art of the Possible: Transforming Health and Care in Wales – From Social Innovation to System Transformation

Helen Williams — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 16:03:12 +0000

Wales’ health and care system was built for a very different era. Today, people are living longer, often with multiple long-term conditions, and expectations of care are changing fast. At the same time, new technologies, new evidence and new models of care are opening up possibilities that simply did not exist before.

The question is no longer whether change is needed, it is how boldly and how well we make it happen.

This flagship symposium on 12th March 2026 brings together global insights and expertise to stimulate future thinking and explore what is truly possible for health and care in Wales. We are delighted to welcome a world‑class line‑up of speakers, including:

Professor David Blumenthal, Harvard Professor of the Practice of Public Health and Health Policy, offering an international perspective on global health system reform and what Wales can learn.
Andrew Ord, Digital Leader at Microsoft Healthcare, who will explore the future of technology and AI in health systems.
Professor Don Berwick KBE, President Emeritus and Senior Fellow at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, discussing how Wales can translate thinking into practice.
Professor Isabel Oliver, Chief Medical Officer, presenting a new values‑led, future‑focused Health Outcomes Framework for Wales.
Professor Spiros Denaxas, Professor of Biomedical Informatics, University College London, looking at future trends and the implications for future design.

Rethinking Health and Care Delivery: Social Innovation. Panellists to include (but not limited to):

- James Maskell, Author of The Community Cure: Transforming Health Outcomes Together
- Denise Hampson, CEO and Founder of Desire Code
- Amy Lloyd, Research and Evidence Lead, RCT HDRC

The symposium will also feature insights from leaders in disruptive innovation, social innovation and community‑led change, and a framework for transforming today’s system into tomorrow’s model of care.

This Symposium brings together policymakers, professionals, innovators and partners from across Wales and beyond to explore what is already emerging and what could be achieved if we are prepared to think differently. It is about moving beyond incremental improvement towards system-wide transformation that is rooted in people, communities and real-world practice.

Through inspiring case studies, international evidence and practical examples from across Wales, we will explore ‘The Art of the Possible’, where social and human innovation sits alongside digital, clinical and system change to create a truly modern, sustainable health and care system.

Building on the momentum of the Bevan March Summit, this event will showcase Wales as a place that does not wait for the future, but actively shapes it, demonstrating how collaboration, creativity and courage can turn ideas into lasting change.

Wales should not wait for the future; we must actively shape it. Join us to see what is possible and to help make it real.

Registration for this event is now closed.

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Bevan Commission System Transformation Lab to help tackle health and care challenges

Helen Williams — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 14:55:23 +0000

“Transformation isn’t just an aspiration, it’s an imperative.”

That was the rallying call as the Bevan Commission hosted the first-ever System Transformation Lab (STL), bringing together nominated leaders from across NHS Wales to explore how innovation can tackle the major challenges facing the health and care system in Wales.

Over three days, senior healthcare staff from NHS Wales health boards and trusts worked side by side using design thinking, innovation sprints, and rapid prototyping techniques to help find solutions to common challenges together. The aim was to generate bold, practical, and sustainable solutions that could ease system pressures and improve patient care and outcomes.

Dr Tom Howson, Head of Transformation and Innovation at the Bevan Commission, described the Lab as a turning point in how leaders approach change. “This wasn’t just about learning; it was about doing,” he said. “The group rolled up their sleeves to design innovative solutions to common system-wide issues. It was such an inspiring event, and we’d like to thank everyone who took part for their commitment, enthusiasm and drive to make a difference.”

The STL builds on the success of the Bevan Commission’s Innovation Intensive Learning Week, but with a sharper focus on sprint-style collaboration. Leaders combined national insight with local expertise to share priorities, challenge assumptions, and fast-track new ideas. Each participant left with a proposal to take back to their organisation for further development and implementation.

The proposals generated during the Lab will now be refined into practical projects with clear value, measurable impact, and timelines for testing. The Bevan Commission will continue to work closely with participants and their organisations to drive forward this work, ensuring alignment with national priorities, wider sharing and engagement and ongoing system transformation programmes.

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Health Matters: Your Questions

Mark Allen — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 12:04:03 +0000

With the May 2026 Senedd elections approaching, our “Health Matters: Your Questions” event on 12th February provided a a rare opportunity to see the main political parties face scrutiny on their health and care manifestos.

Watch a recording of the event

You can also read a summary of the panellists’ answers here.

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Working with Industry to Drive Innovation and Improve Population Health and Wellbeing

Helen Howson — Thu, 02 May 2024 11:20:26 +0000

The Bevan Commission is committed to working with industry to drive transformational change and build healthier, more connected, and resilient communities and workplaces.

Collaborating with industry forms an integral action to achieving the ”Foundations for the Future Model of Health and Care” – a key foundation being ”Resilient and Resourceful People and Communities”.

Industry plays a vital role in improving population health, not only by supporting employee health and wellbeing but also through its influence on wider communities. With people working for longer into older age and as the older population grows, age-related conditions like cancer and dementia are expected to rise significantly. This is a critical time for shared responsibility and action to help improve population health and wellbeing. Find out more:

The Economic Cost of Poor Health in Wales

Wales Faces ‘Economic Crisis Driven by Demographic Time Bomb and Decline in Health’

Through collaborative workshops and learning events, the Bevan Commission brings together key industry partners to explore bold ideas, harness innovation, and encourage shared responsibility for health and care as illustrated in the work below.

A snapshot of some of the industries we have collaborated with:

2022: The Bevan Commission partnered with ARUP—experts in the built environment—to publish People, Places, Health: Constructing a Health and Care Ecosystem for Wales, a paper exploring how place-based design can support a healthier, more integrated health and care system.

The report envisions a future where health and social care are easily accessible within local communities, often within a “15-minute neighborhood” concept, reducing the reliance on general hospitals. It calls for a rethinking of roles for government, health leaders, city planners, and policymakers, emphasising better collaboration, cooperation, and coordination across various agencies and sectors.

Read the paper here.

June 2022: The Bevan Commission hosted an industry round table sponsored by Bristol Myers Squibb, to explore how Wales can harness health and care data—including AI and digital technologies—to deliver more prudent, integrated, and effective care. The rountable was attended by senior leaders and stakeholders from across the Welsh health and care system, including representatives from the Welsh Government, Digital Health and Care Wales, Public Health Wales, the Wales Cancer Network, third-sector organisations, academia, and the life sciences industry. The discussion focused on overcoming fragmentation, building public trust, and improving coordination and investment in the health data landscape, with key recommendations including the development of a national roadmap for data use, complementing the existing National Data Resource strategy.

To find out more, read the summary report here

May 2024: The Bevan Commission convened a Round Table with then First Minister Vaughan Gething and industry leaders to explore how businesses can support population health in Wales. The discussion under Chatham House rules focused on employee wellbeing, corporate social responsibility, and opportunities for collaboration and shared learning between sectors.

In response, the Bevan Commission—working with CBI Wales, Healthy Working Wales, Business in the Community (BITC), and Industry Wales—launched the Learning Together series: three themed events focused on employee health and wellbeing (April 2025), CSR, and learning from industry (dates to be confirmed in 2025).

Read the ”Industry Round Table Report” here.

October 2024: The Bevan Commission—supported by Boots—hosted a Round Table on ”Health on the High Street” to explore innovative, community-based approaches to improving health and wellbeing. With increasing pressure on Wales’ health and care services, the event brought together cross-sector partners to develop integrated, sustainable solutions.

Published in February 2025, the Health on the High Street Round Table Report captures insights from key stakeholders on embedding health and wellbeing services within local high streets. It explores what communities value and identifies practical, locally driven ways to meet health needs closer to home.

Read the report: Health on the High Street: Roundtable Report (Eng), Health on the High Street: Roundtable Report (Welsh)

April 2025: The Bevan Commission, in partnership with the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and Healthy Working Wales (HWW), held the first of three planned ‘‘Learning Together’’ round table events, on the topic of ”Employee Health and Wellbeing’‘. At the event, Welsh industry leaders shared practical strategies to support workforce wellbeing. Following the event, a best practice booklet has been produced with practical recommendations, tools and resources,for businesses to support employee health and wellbeing and to help build healthier workplaces.

Download the Best Practice guide here: Employee Health and Wellbeing (English), Employee Health and Wellbeing (Welsh)

Download the Round Table Executive Summary in English and Welsh

Download the Round Table Summary Report in English and Welsh

If you are interested in collaborating with us, get in touch: bevan-commission@swansea.ac.uk>

In the meantime, stay tuned for more updates relating to future planned roundtable events and industry collaborations.

Stay up to date with the latest Bevan Commission news by signing up to our monthly bulletin.

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The Tipping Point: Where next for health and care?

Helen Howson — Wed, 02 Aug 2023 08:35:09 +0000

Born from the ruins of a world in crisis, the NHS is an enduring testament to the extraordinary things that happen when people come together for the common good.

For 75 years, the NHS has been the bedrock of our society; protecting our communities, our friends, and our families. The NHS has achieved so much, but now faces unprecedented global challenges, including Covid-19, ageing populations, and the climate emergency.

We are at a tipping point. It is time for us to face these challenges together and rebuild our NHS to thrive in tomorrow’s world. We have done it before, and we can do it again.

On the 5^th and 6^th July the Bevan Commission hosted our conference to mark the 75^th anniversary of the NHS but also to host open and honest conversations about the future of our health and social care services. The two days comprised of internationally renowned speakers, breakout sessions and panel discussions as follows.

Watch the conference keynote presentations below and read the proceedings here. The ideas generated at this conference also informed our Foundations For The Future Model Of Health And Care In Wales.

Rt Hon Mark Drakeford MS

Rt Hon Mark Drakeford MS, First Minister of Wales, opened the conference with a resounding call to action.

“Aneurin Bevan would have been clear that all you have to do when you hear those voices is to fight…”

Developing Resilient and Resourceful People and Communities

Lord Nigel Crisp

Lord Nigel Crisp thinks outside the box to suggest ways forward for health and care.

“Having meaning and purpose in life is good for your health…”

Professor Sir Chris Ham

Sir Chris Ham puts the challenges and opportunities faced by the NHS under the microscope.

“We need in my view much stronger focus on how the NHS can really become a learning organisation…”

Questions and Answers

With Lord Nigel Crisp and Professor Sir Chris Ham.

Dr Usman Khan

Dr Usman Khan speaks on the importance and methods of creating health literacy in populations.

“Can Wales be the most health literate country in Europe?”

Professor Sir Don Berwick

Sir Don Berwick draws on international healthcare models to identify Wales’ unique opportunities in health and care.

“There is a sense in Wales, that I find in few other countries, of pride and dignity and respect for each other that is the foundation of a truly innovative approach…”

Professor Derek Feeley

Professor Derek Feeley discusses the need for better integration in order to allow constant improvement.

“The NHS is a precious thing and there is much to celebrate about it… and I for one have faith in the NHS”

Dame Sue Bailey OBE

Dame Sue Bailey draws on the Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership to give real world examples of difficulties and successes in delivering integrated care.

“The language of culture is the thing Wales has in bucketloads…”

Bevan Question Time Panel

With the Rt Reverend & Rt Hon Rowan Williams, Kendra-Jean Nwamadi, Bamidele Adenipekun, Lord Nigel Crisp, Professor Kamila Hawthorn and Nygaire Bevan.

Creating Equally Well and Sustainable Approaches

Sir Frank Atherton

Sir Frank Atherton talks about how we can transform public health in Wales.

“Written into the DNA of the NHS, as created by Bevan is that principle of equity…”

Professor Sir Michael Marmott

Sir Michael Marmott brings data to life through exploring the urgent health inequalities we face. Followed by questions and answers with delegates.

“A healthcare system for the poor would be a poor healthcare system…”

Professor Sir Andy Haines

Sir Andy Haines sounds the alarm about healthcare’s contribution to the climate emergency and how a changing climate is impacting global health. Followed by Bevan Commission director Helen Howson introducing the Let’s Not Waste programme.

“There could be big benefits in moving to a more health promoting, health sustaining economy, within environmental boundaries…”

Derek Walker

Derek Walker, The Future Generations Commissioner for Wales, discusses the Wellbeing and Future Generations Act in relation to health and social care. Derek also presents the awards for the Bevan Young Future Thinker Awards.

“We know that we need to look holistically across policy areas and at the root problems of poor health”

Eluned Morgan MS

Wales’ Minister for Health and Social Services delivers a compelling call to action to transform health and social care in Wales, and do so with the public.

“We haven’t yet worked out if the trajectories continue and if the public don’t come with us on the public health journey, what we will have to give or how we will pay for that increased demand…”

Bevan Future Thinker Awards

Presented by Eluned Morgan MS and Sue Evans, Chief Executive of Social Care Wales.

Transformation to be Fit and Flexible for the Future

Judith Paget CBE

Judith Paget discusses the Welsh Govenment’s new Innovation Strategy and it’s relationship with health and social care.

“We know everybody is working incredibly hard, and we know that we can make improvements if we work together. We can’t keep doing more of the same, we have to do differently, and we can’t go back to doing what we did before the pandemic…”

Professor Donna Hall CBE

Professor Donna Hall shares her experiences in citizen-led decision making in the Wigan Deal.

“Very often patients… people are seen as passive recipients of services rather than active players of local communities who can really shape the health and wellness of a community…”

Professor George Crooks OBE

Professor George Crooks examines the role and radical potential of digital technology in the future of health and care.

“Go and challenge your systems, but do it for the right reasons…”

Sir David Haslam CBE

Sir David Haslam reflects on the medical profession’s ongoing and emerging challenges and the patterns of failure and success.

“Every success we have has the potential to sow the seed of the next challenge”

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Innovation Intensive Learning Week

Helen Howson — Wed, 02 Aug 2023 08:29:20 +0000

Challenge, change and champion for better health and care

The Bevan Commission is committed to driving the urgent transformation needed across health and social care. We believe the best and most prudent solutions will come from the workforce itself.

Our Innovation Intensive Learning Week offers a unique opportunity to step away from day-to-day pressures and work alongside like-minded peers and internationally recognised experts to develop innovative, practical solutions to real-world challenges. This immersive residential programme equips participants with fresh insights, new skills, and prudent approaches they can apply directly in their roles.

Drawing on the experience of the Bevan Exemplar Programme (having supported over 350 Exemplar projects), the expertise of our Bevan Commissioners and partners in healthcare, industry and the third sector, the four-day programme blends presentations, case studies, panel discussions, group work, and tailored coaching into a rich, highly interactive learning experience.

Stay tuned for upcoming learning opportunities.

Got a question? Get in touch: bevan-commission@swansea.ac.uk.

Hear what previous participants have to say about the experience:

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