Reflecting on the Boost Improvement in Health and Care Conference, we have been struck by the passion, courage and commitment in the room. This year’s gathering, in partnership with the Health Foundation’s Q community – was far more than a one-day event. It was a bold statement of intent: that we are building a community for change.
Held at Ramside Hall in Durham, the conference brought together a vast range of colleagues from across health, care and the Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector, each playing a vital role in our shared mission to reduce inequalities and improve outcomes. From the inspiring world café sessions led by our local improvement champions, we saw what is possible when learning, leadership and collaboration come together with purpose.
Professor Amy Edmondson reminded us of the critical role psychological safety plays in creating environments where innovation can thrive. Professor Donna Hall challenged us to think differently about power, place and the role of citizens in public service reform. And throughout, the message was clear: improvement is not the job of a few – it is a collective endeavour.
We know the scale of the challenge in our region. But this conference reinforced that we also have the creativity, the expertise and, crucially, the will to meet it – together. Thank you to everyone who contributed to our big conversation about how we move forward and for the contributions that created such a powerful day. Let’s stay connected, keep learning, and continue to grow this movement for change.
To see highlights from the day, watch our conference video below:
If you haven’t already, please take the time to sign up to Boost at Boost.org.uk, and join the Q community via q.health.org.uk
We were delighted to be joined (virtually) on the day by two inspirational keynote speakers – Professor Amy Edmondson and Professor Donna Hall CBE.
‘The right kind of wrong: Creating psychological safety for change’
Professor Amy Edmondson (Harvard Business School), delivered a session on embracing intelligent risk-taking and learning from failure to accelerate improvement:
‘Reimagining public services through collaboration’
Professor Donna Hall (Chair of the New Local think tank and architect of the Wigan Deal) shared insights into how the Wigan Deal transformed local services, and what it means for health and care integration:
Further resources:
