Rebuilding Trust in the NHS: Transparency, Accountability, and Patient Experience

Accountability is the cornerstone of public trust in the NHS. But in a system as vast and complex as ours, who truly holds the reins? From elected officials and regulatory bodies to clinical governance frameworks and patient voice mechanisms, the landscape of NHS accountability is both layered and contested.

This panel brings together health system leaders, clinicians, policymakers, and public representatives to unpack the structures that shape oversight, transparency, and responsibility across the NHS. We’ll explore:

• The balance between democratic accountability and clinical autonomy
• How Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) are reshaping governance and decision-making
• The role of regulators, boards, and professional standards in safeguarding care quality
• How patients and communities can meaningfully influence service design and performance

This is a conversation about power, responsibility, and reform. Join us to examine how the NHS can strengthen its accountability models—and ensure that leadership is both responsive and representative.

Patients are not just recipients of care—they are experts in their own experiences. As the NHS strives to deliver more person-centred, equitable, and effective services, co-design is emerging as a powerful tool for transformation. But meaningful engagement requires more than surveys and feedback forms—it demands partnership, empathy, and shared decision-making.

This panel brings together NHS leaders, patient representatives, service designers, and frontline clinicians to explore how co-design can reshape services from the ground up. We’ll examine:

• What authentic patient involvement looks like in practice
• How co-design improves outcomes, trust, and system responsiveness
• Strategies for engaging diverse voices, especially those often excluded from traditional consultation
• Real-world examples of NHS services built with—not just for—patients

This is a conversation about power, partnership, and progress. Join us to explore how listening deeply and designing collaboratively can lead to services that truly meet the needs of the people they serve.

In an era of digital transformation, patients expect more than just access—they expect clarity, responsiveness, and partnership. Digital platforms are reshaping how the NHS communicates, delivers services, and builds trust with the public. From patient portals and mobile apps to real-time feedback tools and open data dashboards, technology is creating new opportunities to engage patients as informed participants in their own care.

This panel brings together NHS digital leaders, patient advocates, technologists, and frontline clinicians to explore how digital platforms can drive transparency and deepen engagement. We’ll examine:

• How digital tools are improving access to records, appointments, and care pathway
• Strategies for using technology to build trust, share information, and support informed decision-making
• The role of co-design and user experience in making platforms truly patient-centred
• Challenges around digital literacy, data privacy, and equitable access

This is a conversation about connection, empowerment, and accountability. Join us to explore how the NHS can use digital platforms not just to deliver care—but to build lasting relationships with the people it serves.

In every ward, clinic, and community setting, NHS staff are more than service providers—they are the face of the system, the first point of contact, and often the most trusted voice in a patient’s journey. As the NHS navigates transformation, recovery, and reform, empowering frontline workers to lead change is not just strategic—it’s essential.

This panel brings together clinicians, operational leaders, workforce experts, and staff representatives to explore how the NHS can unlock the leadership potential of its frontline. We’ll examine:

• How trust is built—and sometimes broken—at the point of care
• The role of staff in shaping culture, improving services, and driving innovation
• Strategies for involving frontline voices in decision-making, quality improvement, and system redesign
• What support, training, and recognition are needed to turn everyday roles into engines of change

This is a conversation about agency, accountability, and the power of lived expertise. Join us to explore how the NHS can invest in its greatest asset—its people—to build a more trusted, responsive, and resilient health service.