Chris Hopson's conference speech 

In Chris Hopson's, NHS Providers chief executive, speech earlier this morning, he spoke about the current state of the provider sector and how, despite the longest financial squeeze in NHS history, providers continue to deliver outstanding patient care. He called for realism in the long-term plan about growing and complex demands trusts are now facing and a deliverable operational task for the provider sector. You can read his speech in full on here.

Day one plenary summaries

We explored the lessons the sector has learned in mental health with insight from Dr Geraldine Strathdee OBE, former national clinical director for mental health, NHS England, Alex Fox OBE, chief executive, Shared Lives Plus, Angela Etherington, expert by experience, and Sheena Cuminsky, chief executive, Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.

NHS England chief executive Simon Stevens gave a keynote address on the key priorities for the health and care system over the next decade and outlined his vision for the future. 

We considered what the priorities for the long-term plan should be in order to recover performance and transform services ,with a panel including Jim Mackey, chief executive, Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and Ben Page, chief executive Ipsos MORI. 

In our final session, chiar Martha Kearney chaired a panel exploring inclusion and diversity in NHS leadership, with participants including Baroness Dido Harding, chair, NHS Improvement, and Carol Campayne, executive director, Diversity Practice. 

Launch of new efficiency report

Earlier today, we launched our major new report, Making the most of the money: Efficiency and the long-term plan. We surveyed over 150 provider leaders, representing 54% of trusts and foundation trusts, to inform our report which explores how trusts feel about their ability to deliver an increasingly stretching efficiency requirement, where savings can still be made and what national leaders can do to help trusts and local systems become more efficient. 

Speaker soundbite 

Dr Geraldine Strathdee OBE talks about why she comes to our annual conference.

Our development offer

As the membership organisation for all NHS provider trusts, we understand what it takes to deliver high-level training and support that makes a positive impact on NHS colleagues and their organisations. We today launched our new development offer brochure to offer members more information about the support and training we can provide. 

Day two highlights

Our plenary speakers include:

• Rt Hon Matt Hancock, health and social care secretary, in coversation with myself
• Andy Burnham, mayor, Greater Manchester Combined Authority
• Ian Dalton, chief executive, NHS Improvement.