The NHS European Office organises, participates in and facilitates NHS involvement in visits and events across the UK and in Europe in order to promote the work of the NHS at European level, and to raise awareness of EU developments impacting on the NHS.
Our previous events page highlights some examples of EU-related visits, conferences and events which NHS representatives have participated in.
Innovation in healthcare without borders April 2012
The European Commission is organising a conference that aims to bring together the key stakeholders involved in the innovation process of the healthcare sector. The main objective of the conference is to act as an innovation healthcare policy forum involving the key actors and policy-makers in order to:
- identify major challenges and build consensus to address them
- develop initiatives and opportunities for Healthcare Innovation
- provide continuity with previous events.
The Conference sessions will cover two major themes:
- Removing borders in the health supply chain; assessing priorities achieved to date and areas where additional efforts are needed
- Inequality and solidarity; exploring new challenges within EU and beyond.
The Commissioner for Research and Innovation, Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, Commissioner Antonio Tajani, responsible for Industry and Entrepreneurship, Commissioner for Health and Consumers, John Dalli and Regional Policy Commissioner Johannes Hahn have been invited to speak. The programme will be complemented by a small "fair" where associations and support structures will provide information to participants.
Information on the 2010 and 2011 conferences, including outcome reports, is available:
http://ec.europa.eu/research/health/innovation-in-healthcare-2011_en.html.
Further information, including the draft programme and registration guidance, will be available by the beginning of January 2012 at:
http://ec.europa.eu/research/health/policy-issues-eu-policy_en.html
International Forum on Quality and Safety in Healthcare 2012
This year's forum will be held in Paris, from 17-20 April 2012, and will gather together over 3,000 healthcare professionals from over 80 countries who aim to improve outcomes for patients and communities, provide practical ideas that can be implemented in the workplace and foster effective innovation in quality and safety improvement in health care.
The theme for the main programme is 'Solutions for Tough Times' reflecting the challenges for the quality and patient safety movement in the past year.
New this year is the 'International Symposium on Improving Long Term Conditions'. Long-term conditions will become the leading cause of disability by 2020 and the most expensive problem for healthcare systems in both developed and developing countries (WHO). This one-day symposium provides practical learning and examples of best practice from around the globe to help improve care and patient outcomes. Also new this year is the 'Technology and Innovation Room' which promises to showcase some of the new cutting-edge technology shaping the future of quality improvement in healthcare.
See here for more information.
High level conference on EU Health Programmes
The European Commission's Directorate General for Health and Consumers will organise a high level conference on EU health programmes in Brussels on 3-4 May 2012. See their web page for more information.
eHealth week 2012
Political leaders, hospital managers, health professionals, IT managers and anyone interested in the optimal use of advanced information technology and management systems in healthcare, will meet from 7 to 9 May in Copenhagen for eHealth Week 2012.
There will be exhibitions from more than 100 Danish and international IT and medical device companies, numerous seminars and workshops and a one-day conference with EU Member States' Health Ministers and their top officials.
The event will focus on the continuity of care from home to hospital to home, demonstrating how information can flow between these different settings. It will include topics like patient empowerment and chronic diseases management involving investment and business opportunities in healthcare IT.
Health Observatory Summer School 2012
The European Observatory on Health will hold their 2012 summer school on 22 to 28 July in Venice, Italy. More details to follow. In the meanitme, you can find out more about the work of the European Observatory on Health, including details of last year's summer school event, by visiting their website.