The King’s Fund is pleased to announce a one-day conference on “Thinking differently about commissioning”, to be held at their London headquarters between 9am and 5pm on Wednesday 25th September.

Commissioning and the role that commissioners play is changing. Providers and commissioners are increasingly planning services together, and commissioners are working across health and social care. The old ‘purchaser–provider’ split is blurring and what was once a system based on competition is evolving into a system focused on collaboration. Rather than just delivering health services, innovative commissioners are starting to focus their efforts on improving population health.

At this event, experts from The King’s Fund will explain key developments in health and care commissioning. Participants will hear from innovative commissioners who are approaching their role in new ways – including new methods for paying for services, new ways of working with patients and local communities to design services, and new approaches to joint working across clinical commissioning groups and local authorities. The conference will also feature national leaders debating the future of commissioning.

The schedule is far too generously packed to reproduce here, and you should really take a look at the conference webpage for full details. But among the topics addressed will be:

• how the landscape is changing
• how contracting and services are developing in response
• how to best involve patients and communities and empower them to actively participate in designing the care they receive
• the role of commissioning in the delivery of a new population health-focused healthcare system
• how to build meaningful partnerships that will guarantee the delivery of this new vision for commissioning.

Booking is now open, and group discounts are available, as are student rates (50% off) and bursaries for patients and carers. Find out more details and book your place at the King’s Fund website.