Wednesday 11:00-12:00 network sessions

Sessions delivered by the NHS Confederation networks and are open to all delegates. Places are limited so remember to book yours.

• Benchmarking and service line management: driving performance improvement
• The independent sector: NHS partners for the next 60 years
• New visions for mental health policy
• Primary and community services: the future
• Our ambitions for the Ambulance Service Network

Benchmarking and service line management: driving performance improvement

When benchmarking is used to assess and understand performance at a sufficiently detailed level it is an incredibly powerful tool for identifying improvement opportunities and solutions. Service Line Reporting & Management (SLM) focuses on the creation of effective self-governing units within the hospital environment allowing clinicians and managers the autonomy, accountability and capabilities to deliver on quality and productivity. In this session you will hear how trusts have used these two approaches to zone in on the issues that matter and then implement the changes needed to significantly improve quality and increase efficiency.

Network: Foundation Trust

Of interest to: Chief executives, chairs, finance directors, performance managers, medical directors, clinicians, service managers.

Speakers: Sue Slipman (Director, Foundation Trust Network), Robert Harris (Policy Director, Monitor) and Nick Gitsham (Benchmarking Manager, Foundation Trust Network)

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The independent sector: NHS partners for the next 60 years

Senior representatives of the independent sector will debate and discuss the growing wealth of experience of working within the NHS as part of a pluralist system. They will look at the constructive impact of competition on patient satisfaction, highlight best practice in terms of working with NHS organisations and talk about how commissioners can ensure that their processes fully respect the need for a 'level playing field' and thus secure the best possible care and clinical outcomes for patients in their locality.

Network: NHS Partners

Format: Panel discussion

Speakers: David Worskett (Director of the NHS Partners Network), Mike Parish (CEO Care UK & Chair of NHSPN) and Andrew Haldenby (Director, Reform)

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New visions for mental health policy

This session will focus on mental health policy beyond the National Service Framework. participants will have an opportunity to comment on and shape the 'New Visions' work developed by the Mental Health Network and Partners (Sainsbury Centre, King's Fund, Mind, Rethink). The session will be chaired by Steve Shrubb and involve speakers from partner organisations.

Network: Mental Health

Chair: Steve Shrubb (Director, Mental Health Network)

Speakers: tbc

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Primary and community services: the future

This session will explore the key components in the future of primary and community services, with a particular focus on linking to Lord Darzi's NHS Next Steps Review, the primary and community services strategy and the development of standard contracts for out of hospital services.

Network: Primary Care Trust

Chair: David Colin-Thomé, National Clinical Director for Primary Care, Department of Health

Speakers: Derek Campbell, Chief Executive, Liverpool PCT and Stephen Shortt, GP, Principia

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Our ambitions for the Ambulance Service Network

In January 2008 the Ambulance Service Network (ASN) was formed as the latest network to be incorporated within the NHS Confederation. Representing the interests of all UK services including those of the devolved administrations as well as those from the Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Gibraltar and the Isle of Wight. The network has taken over the member responsibilities previously handled by the Ambulance Services Association (ASA).

Network: Ambulance Service

Speakers: John Burnside (Chair of the Ambulance Service Network and CEO of the North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust) and Liz Kendall (Director, Ambulance Service Network)