This page highlights some examples of NHS involvement in EU-related visits, events and conferences.
Our get involved page has more information about making contacts with EU stakeholders and getting involved in the work of the NHS European Office.
Previous events
French delegation check-in to discuss NHS reforms
The NHS European Office hosted a delegation of senior French MPs, health policy-makers and directors of social insurance organisations in London. The delegation was particularly interested in the current programme of NHS reforms and the future implications for health professionals and the hospital sector. Over the course of two days the delegation heard from officials at the Department of Health, Alastair Henderson at the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges; Dr Hamish Meldrum at the BMA; Nigel Edwards at the NHS Confederation; the former MP and Bexley GP Howard Stoate and also visited Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
Following the visit the head of the delegation, Pascal Beau, reported back to Ministers in the French Government on the various discussions held.
Yorkshire MEP visits local Haemophilia and Thrombosis Centre
Yorkshire and the Humber Euro MP Linda McAvan visited the Sheffield Haemophilia and Thrombosis Centre in February 2011 to see the international work the Centre is leading on. Linda, who led in the European Parliament on pharmacovigilance, heard from Dr Mike Makris (pictured above with Linda) and colleagues about the work of the Centre and the EUHASS project, which is an EU-wide system for adverse event reporting for patients with inherited bleeding disorders.
Finnish health and social care managers visit London to see the NHS in practice
The NHS European Office welcomed 14 senior health and social care managers from Finland to London in October to exchange best practice in treating chronic conditions and to discuss the current NHS reforms in England. The group, made up of members of the Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities, spent a day at Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust and a day at the NHS Confederation's offices. They heard from a range of NHS organisations throughout the two days and co-hosted an evening meal with Councillor David Rogers OBE, Chair of the Local Government Group's Community Wellbeing Programme Board. They returned to Finland eager to put into practice some of the learning they gathered.
The programme with the full list of speakers can be viewed here.
Malcom Harbour MEP gives support to the Institute of Digital Healthcare
The NHS European Office arranged for West Midlands MEP Malcolm Harbour to visit the newly opened Institute of Digital Healthcare at the International Digital Library, Warwick University, in October 2010. Professor Jeremy Wyatt, co-Director of the Institute, took Malcolm through some of their innovative digital work to help deliver care solutions for patients and their care support networks. Malcolm, who is leading on initiatives to overcome barriers to the EU's single market, has a keen interest in the digital healthcare agenda and also heard from Geoff Wedgewood, Programme Director for Digital Healthcare at NHS West Midlands, on their recent work setting up NHS Local.
A view from Europe: transferring health policy knowledge from Europe to the NHS
The NHS European Office teamed up with LSE Health and the NHS Confederation's Health Services Research Network (HSRN) and SDO Network to host a series of events to bring practical, highly relevant health policy experience from Europe to healthcare organisations in England. The seminars took place between April and September 2010, and were aimed at NHS managers, clinicians, academics, politicians and policy think-tanks.
The seminars looked at performance measurement, hospital financing, why Europe matters to the NHS and decentralisation. To view the presentations given please visit the HSRN events web page or contact: Michael.wood@nhsconfed.org.
NHS Confederation Annual Conference discusses EU implications for the NHS
The NHS European Office hosted a session in conjunction with the London School of Economics at the NHS Confederation's Annual Conference in Liverpool in June. Why Europe matters for the NHS was Chaired by Alan Yates (Mersey Care Trust) and heard presentations from Tamara Hervey (Sheffield University) on the structure, supremacy and enforceability of EU law; Leigh Hancher (University of Tilborg in the Netherlands) on specific examples of potential impliocations for the NHS in relation to procurement and freedom of movement; and Elisabetta Zanon (Director of the NHS European Office) on the achievements of the European Office to date. Those who attended the Conference can access all the presentations here, if you didn't you can still read a summary of the session.
Nottingham hospital tells EU decision-makers how ICT can help cut costs and waiting times
Findings from a study evaluating the impact of a telephony communication network in the emergency department of Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust were presented to EU decision-makers in June. The study was undertaken by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) on behalf of the European Commission and found that investment in improved ICT in health care could reduce waiting times, boost patient and staff satisfaction and deliver value for money. Dr Navin Bedi, a consultant in the emergency department, and Dean Westcott, Vice President of ACCA and Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Finance at West Essex PCT, presented their findings at a meeting in the European Parliament hosted by Bulgarian Euro MP Antonyia Parvanova.
Malcolm Harbour MEP meets with NHS Innovations West Midlands
In May 2010 the NHS European Office arranged for Malcolm Harbour, Member of the European Parliament for the West Midlands and Chairman of the Parliament's Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee, to visit MidTECH, the region's innovations hub. Malcolm met with David Gleaves, Chief Executive of MidTECH and Tony Davis, Chief Executive of Medilink West Midlands, to discuss the innovative work done in the region and the obstacles facing the NHS in the procurement of innovation.
Euro MP visits West London Renal and Transplant Centre
The Office recently organised a visit by London Euro MP, Marina Yannakoudakis, to the West London Renal and Transplant Centre, part of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. Marina is taking the lead for her political group in the European Parliament discussions on EU proposals to ensure the quality and safety of organs for transplant, and the visit focused on the role of living donations.
Victoria Ford MEP visits East of England Ambulance Service
The NHS European Office arranged a visit for Victoria Ford, Euro MP for the East of England region, to her local Ambulance Service in early January 2010. Victoria was shown around the Service's control room and met with Hayden Newton, Chief Executive, John Brebner, Interim Finance Director, and Paul Henry, Associate Director of Estates, Facilities and Fleet, to discuss the potential implications for the NHS of EU legislative proposals which are currently passing through the European decision-making process.
EU conference on the Promotion of Mental Health and Well-being of Children and Young People
The NHS European Office arranged for an NHS representative to attend a high-level conference on young peoples' mental health organised by the European Commission and the Swedish Health Ministry as part of a series focussing on the priority themes set out in the EU Mental Health Pact. Amynta Cardwell, Interim Director for Child & Adolescent Services at Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust, participated in the two-day event, which aimed to enable the sharing of good practices on the promotion of young peoples' mental health. It was structured around five sub-themes: parents, family and the early years; the role of health services in promotion and prevention; the community environment; the role of media, internet and electronic games; and educational settings and learning. Visit the conference website for more information.
Procurement and Innovation in the NHS: sharing NHS experience in Europe
John Warrington, Deputy Director of Policy & Research in the Procurement, Investment & Commercial Division of the Department of Health and Michael Wilkinson, PhD of the NHS National Innovation Centre (NIC) recently participated on behalf of the NHS at an EU conference focusing on how healthcare related public procurement of innovation (PPI) can both improve patient care and increase opportunities for businesses.
John’s contribution set the general UK context for the procurement of healthcare related innovation and emphasised the priority placed by the Government on this as a way of meeting new societal and healthcare challenges. Michael explained how the NIC aims to encourage a more rapid uptake of innovation beneficial to the NHS and described how the “Clinical Needs” web based tool is helping to achieve this. Their presentations are available on the conference website.
NHS sets an example for Europe on ICT use in ambulances
The NHS European Office arranged for Dave Marsden, Director of Strategic IMT at NHS East Midlands and John Stephenson, Medical Director at East Midlands Ambulance Trust to participate in an event on emergency care services in Europe. The event provided an opportunity for European experts to exchange best practices on the use of ICT, the organisation of staff and the types of vehicles and equipment used in the emergency care sector.
NHS delegate joins study visit on organ transplants
The NHS European Office arranged for Elisabeth Buggins, Chair of West Midlands SHA, who chaired the former Organ Donation Taskforce and conducted a review of the organ allocation system for non-UK residents, to participate in a study visit to Spain. The visit, organised under the auspices of the European Hospital and Healthcare Federation (HOPE), offered an opportunity for delegates from across Europe to learn about the Spanish model, which has had significant success in increasing organ donation rates, and to exchange views and discuss experiences from their own countries in an informal and collaborative setting.
Martin Callanan MEP visits local ambulance trust
The NHS European Office faciliated a visit by North East Euro MP Martin Callanan to North East Ambulance Service NHS Trust. Martin, who has been supporting NHS work in the European Parliament, learnt about some of the key concerns for the ambulance sector in relation to EU issues.
See our events page for more information on forthcoming EU-related events of potential interest to NHS organisations.