Escaping the NHS Permacrisis

By March 2026, NHS leaders will still be living with backlogs, workforce pressure and tight money. Most providers already know what needs to change – more care in homes and communities, smarter use of digital, and earlier action on risk – but the environment they operate in often pulls in the opposite direction.

This webinar explores how ICBs and system leaders can escape the sense of “permacrisis” by reshaping the conditions in which providers work, rather than issuing more targets or projects. We’ll focus on how strategic commissioning can support providers to make the three big shifts safely and sustainably.

Using real system examples and decision intelligence, we’ll look at how funding models, incentives, metrics and datacan better support board choices – and how provider boards can use strategy, risk, workforce and digital decisions to shape and respond to that environment.

We will also share an innovative framework to pivot to better outcomes by focusing on population needs – helping health systems become more customer-centric, reduce waste and improve value.

Who is it for

• ICB Chairs, NEDs and Chief Executives
• ICB Directors of Strategy, Commissioning, Finance and Transformation
• Provider trust Chairs, NEDs and Executive Teams (acute, community, mental health, ambulance)
• Neighbourhood leaders and provider collaborative leads
• Senior leaders in commissioning, planning, population health and analytics

What you’ll leave with

• Identify funding models, incentives and outcome frameworks that make it rational for providers to redesign services and share risk.
• Understand how to use data and decision intelligence to support bolder board decisions on quality, inequalities and financial sustainability, rather than simply monitoring performance.
• Take away a short, practical set of board and commissioning questions to build into 2026/27 planning, contracting and development sessions.