The Private Practice Conference: Midlife Health Innovation, Prevention and Action

Workforce & Care Integration

09:00 am
10 Jul, 2025
8 Northumberland Avenue, London

The Private Practice Conference: Midlife Health Innovation, Prevention and Action

Workforce & Care Integration

09:00 am
10 Jul, 2025
8 Northumberland Avenue, London

With the UK’s ageing population and the rise of chronic conditions, midlife has become a defining point in the nation’s healthcare strategy. This landmark event brings together leaders from the NHS, private sector, corporate health, and policymaking bodies to explore how meaningful collaboration—not siloed services—can unlock healthier futures and a more resilient system.

This event focuses on:

  • Closing the gap between public and private healthcare delivery.
  • Making prevention the new standard of care.
  • Unlocking innovation through employer-driven and patient-centric models.
  • Reframing midlife as the final frontier for long-term health impact.

Why Attend? Delegates will gain access to:

  • Exclusive insights from leaders in NHS policy, private health provision, and clinical innovation.
  • Real-world case studies on dementia services, digital pathology, corporate wellbeing, menopause care, and more.
  • Actionable strategies to manage workforce health, reduce chronic disease, and support healthy ageing.
  • Opportunities to network with stakeholders across healthcare, government, business, and insurance sectors.
  • Emerging trends in personalised medicine, diagnostics, and mental health support in midlife.
  • A unique forum to contribute to a national conversation on integrated, patient-first care.

Why Sponsor? Sponsors benefit from:

  • Brand alignment with innovation, collaboration, and clinical excellence in one of the UK’s most urgent health topics.
  • Visibility to NHS executives, policymakers, private providers, and corporate decision-makers.
  • Opportunities to present thought leadership, moderate sessions, or lead demos in front of a high-value audience.
  • Access to targeted networking with potential partners, clients, and public-sector collaborators.
  • The chance to directly influence and support the next wave of private-public healthcare partnerships.

This is more than a conference—it's a catalyst for cross-sector collaboration, sustainable innovation, and life-changing outcomes. Whether you’re here to connect, contribute, or lead, the Midlife Health Conference is where transformation begins.

 
Conference Organiser:

The programme

09:00

Doors Open: Morning Registration

Doors Open: Morning Registration

09:30

Opening Vision: Reimagining Midlife Health

Professor Lord Ara Darzi
Co-Director
Institute of Global Health Innovation at Imperial College London

A visionary overview of the urgent need to address midlife health through cross-sector collaboration, prevention-first strategies, and smarter healthcare delivery models.

Pre-recorded Video Address

09:45

Health or Wealth? The Ethics of Private Provision

Raises ethical, clinical, and systemic concerns about increasing private sector involvement in healthcare and its potential implications for public trust.

Speaker: Dr Julia Patterson

10:00

Private Sector Pulse: Is Healthcare Ready for Reinvention?

Ted Townsend
Director
Townsend Strategic Advisory Services Ltd

An analysis of private healthcares current capacity, challenges, and readiness to play a pivotal role in supporting NHS efforts during the midlife health crisis.

10:15

Urgent Care, Lasting Impact: A&E Lessons for Midlife

Discusses how emergency medicine intersects with midlife chronic issues and how better integration between sectors can reduce late-stage admissions.

Speaker: To be confirmed

10:30

Smart Diagnostics: Fighting Cancer with Code

Dr Muhammad Babar Aslam
Consultant pathologist and clinical lead digital pathology Wales
Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board

Explores how cutting-edge digital pathology is transforming early diagnosis and treatment pathways for midlife cancers.

10:45

Designing Dementia: A Blueprint for Brain Health

Insights into pioneering approaches to dementia care, including infrastructure, policy shifts, and societal attitudes toward midlife cognitive decline.

Speaker: Laurence Geller CBE

11:00

Sponsored Session: Innovation Spotlight

An exclusive sponsored feature highlighting a breakthrough solution, service, or approach in the midlife health space.

Speaker: Pharmacierge speaker tbc

11:15

Break & Brew: Morning Refreshments

Break & Brew: Morning Refreshments

11:45

Pills, Platforms & Progress: Digital Disruption in Prescribing

Sponsored insight into how digital platforms are reshaping prescription access, medication adherence, and patient empowerment in midlife.

Speaker: Edward Ungar

12:00

Behind the Curtain: Anaesthesia, Safety, and Service Delivery in Midlife Care

As patient complexity increases with age, so too do the risks and resource demands of anaesthesia. In this vital session, Professor William Harrop-Griffiths, Consultant Anaesthetist, unpacks the evolving challenges of delivering safe, efficient anaesthetic services in both public and private settings.

From managing comorbidities to navigating workforce shortages and capacity issues, he offers insights into where the private sector can innovate, support NHS pressures, and raise standards in procedural safety for the midlife population. A must-attend for clinical leaders, service managers, and anyone shaping perioperative care models.

Speaker: Professor William Harrop-Griffiths

12:15

Healthcare Unplugged: Inside the System with a Policy Architect

A former health secretarys perspective on how integrated care systems and policy shifts must adapt to midlife challenges.

Speaker: Lord Andrew Lansley

12:30

Mental Wealth: The Private Sectors Role in Emotional Health

Dr Jon van Niekerk
Group Medical Director
Cygnet Health Care

How the private mental health sector is expanding and evolving to meet midlife demand, including regulatory, clinical, and structural perspectives.

12:45

Ten-Year Vision: Partnering for a Healthier Nation

David Hare
Chief Executive
Independent Healthcare Providers Network (IHPN) Limited

Evaluates the role of independent providers in meeting NHS targets, easing pressure, and filling service gaps with scalable, innovative care models.

13:00

Midday Recharge: Networking Lunch

Midday Recharge: Networking Lunch

14:00

Sponsored Session: Innovation Spotlight

An exclusive sponsored feature highlighting a breakthrough solution, service, or approach in the midlife health space.

Speaker: To be confirmed

14:15

Counting the Cost: Health Risks That Bankrupt Business

Analysis of the economic and actuarial risk midlife health issues pose to businesses, and how strategic investment in health can create returns.

Speaker: Joanne Buckle

14:30

Corporate Wellbeing: Healthcare as a Retention Strategy

Marjoleine Hulshof
People & Organisation Lead
Investec Bank plc

A corporate perspective on integrating effective midlife care coverage and its impact on retention, performance, and well-being.

14:45

Insurance Rebooted: PMIs for the Midlife Majority

How Private Medical Insurers are adapting policies and packages to suit the specific needs and risks of the midlife population.

Speaker: PMI Representative

15:00

Cardio Countdown: Beating Heart Disease Before It Starts

Dr Balvinder Wasan
Consultant Cardiologist
Independent Doctors Federation

How early identification and preventive care in cardiology can drastically reduce long-term disease burden.

15:15

Rhythm Revival: Tackling Arrhythmia in Midlife

Discusses the growing need for midlife arrhythmia services and how private sector clinics can improve access and outcomes.

Speaker: Professor Richard Schilling

15:30

Comfort Break: Time to Recharge

Comfort Break: Time to Recharge

16:00

Mobilising Care: MSK Service Delivery & Training Pathways in the Private Sector

Musculoskeletal (MSK) issues are among the most common—and costly—health concerns in the midlife population. In this session, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon Mr Mark Bowditchexplores how the private sector is uniquely positioned to enhance access, efficiency, and outcomes in MSK care.

He’ll discuss scalable service models for diagnosing and treating common midlife conditions, and highlight how investment in training and upskilling clinicians can help bridge workforce gaps and future-proof care delivery. This is an essential conversation for providers, educators, and innovators looking to meet growing MSK demand with quality, speed, and sustainability.

Speaker: Mr Mark Bowditch

16:15

The Menopause Movement: Mainstreaming the Change

Dr Louise Newson
Founder of Newson Health, Clinician and Menopause Specialist
Newson Health

Advocates for mainstreaming menopause awareness, access to care, and workplace support for midlife women.

16:30

Check Yourself: A Testicular Cancer Wake-Up Call

Philip Morris MBE
Founder
Testicular Cancer UK

Highlights the need for earlier detection, awareness campaigns, and breaking taboos around male health at midlife.

16:45

Minds Matter: Innovation in Mental Health Access

Andy Bell
Chief Executive
Centre for Mental Health

How private services can offer scalable, responsive support for midlife mental health, especially in underserved populations.

17:00

Rewiring Resilience: Future Models for Mental Health

Dr Chi-Chi Obuaya
Consultant Psychiatrist
CNWL NHS Foundation Trust, the Nightingale Hospital

Envisions how collaborative, tech-enabled, and personalized models can change midlife mental healthcare for good.

17:15

Closing Reflections & Calls to Action

Closing Reflections & Calls to Action

Book tickets

Ticket
Price
Quantity
IDrF Members & NHS (Conference Ticket Only)
£97.00 excl VAT
Limited places
0
Non Members (Conference Ticket Only)
£197.00 excl VAT
Limited places
0
Corporates (Conference Ticket Only)
£495.00 excl VAT
Limited places
0
Summer Get Together (IDrF members attending the 'Summer Get Together' only & non members wishing to attend the "Summer Get Together post conference)
£97.00 excl VAT
Limited places
0
Conference & Summer Get Together (IDrF Members Only)
£97.00 excl VAT
Limited places
0

Our accreditations

abpco 2021
Manchester Bee
CPD Member
Living Wage Member
Good Employment - Sponsor
Good Employment - Member
Armed Forces Covenant
Tech UK
IHSCM
FSB
Ban The Box
Stockport County
cpdgroup