About State of Health and Care Conference 2026

The State of Health and Care Conference has been IPPR's annual point of reflection on everything health policy and politics, and this edition will mark its first convening since the publication of the final report of our Commission on Health and Prosperity in September 2024.

With our new Centre of Health and Prosperity now in action, we will once again bring together senior leaders from across parliament, the NHS, social care, local government, business, charities and civil society to discuss the health and care system, and health as a foundation of national prosperity.

Schedule

11.00 - 11.10 - Welcome: Lord Victor Adebowale, Chair, IPPR
11.10 - 11.40 - Keynote speech: Sir Jim Mackey, Chief Executive Officer, NHS England
11.40 - 12.50 - Brighter beginnings: Building healthy futures: Munira Wilson MP, Spokesperson for Education, Children and Families
Rt Hon Baroness Geeta Nargund
Rt Hon Dame Andrea Leadsom, Founder, 1001 Critical Days Foundation
Natasha Feiner, Interim Head of Policy and Influencing, Impact on Urban Health
Chair: Amy Gandon, Associate Fellow, IPPR
12.50 - 13.30 - Networking lunch
13.30 - 14.00 - Keynote speech: Rt Hon Stuart Andrew MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
14.00 - 15.10 - The vital middle: Advancing health in working life: Dr Sarah Hughes, CEO, Mind
Nicola Smith, Director of Policy, Trades Union Congress
Chris Smyth, Public Policy Editor, The Financial Times
Chair: Sebastian Rees, Head of Health, IPPR
15.10 - 15.30 - Tea and coffee break
15.30 - 16.40 - Living better, longer: Boosting older people’s health: Hilary Cottam, author of The Work We Need and Radical Help: How We Can Remake the Relationships Between Us & Revolutionise the Welfare State
Professor Bola Owolabi CBE, Chief Inspector of Primary Care and Community Services, Care Quality Commission
Dr Carole Easton OBE, Chief Executive, Centre for Ageing Better
Chair: Sebastian Rees, Head of Health, IPPR
16.40 - 17.15 - Keynote speech: TBA
17.15 - 17.30 - Closing remarks: Harry Quilter-Pinner, Executive Director, IPPR
17.30 - 18.30 - Networking reception