Annual Lecture Looks to Future of the NHS

A thought-provoking lecture at Worcester Cathedral next week will look at a way forward for the NHS.

Lord Victor Adebowale CBE will be giving this year’s Worcester Lecture, a free public talk, on Tuesday, October 3, at 6pm.

The Worcester Lectures, hosted by a partnership of the University of Worcester and Worcester Cathedral, are designed to contribute to the rich cultural heritage of Worcester, celebrating and further strengthening the links between the two institutions.

In his lecture, titled The NHS is sick? What’s the Cure?, Lord Adebowale, who is Chair of the NHS Confederation, will explore the current state of the NHS. This comes less than a month since the University saw its first medical students begin their studies.

The NHS is a great British institution and source of national pride, making healthcare for all accessible and free at the point of delivery. In recent years, it has come under increasing pressures, including acute staff shortages. Lord Adebowale will grapple with the questions of how the NHS got into this position and what needs to be done. He will argue that a radical shift in focus is required.

The NHS Confederation is the membership organisation that brings together, supports and speaks for the whole healthcare system in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Lord Adebowale was previously Chief Executive of social enterprise Turning Point.

He is the co-founder of Visionable, a video platform providing integrated patient centred healthcare. He is also a Non-Executive Director of the Co-Operative Group, Collaborate CIC and Leadership in Mind. He is also the Chair of Social Enterprise UK. He was awarded a CBE for services to the unemployed and homeless people and became a crossbench peer in 2001.

University of Worcester Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive, Professor David Green CBE DL, said: “The NHS is a national institution that many of us hold dear, but it has faced considerable pressures in recent years, particularly as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, so this lecture is very well-timed. Since its inception, at each Worcester Lecture we have heard from key figures in different fields, from politics to education to the law, addressing the key issues of the day. Lord Adebowale’s role and considerable expertise in the healthcare sector will no doubt provide a fresh insight and we very much look forward to hearing his thoughts on the future of the NHS and its services. I hope members of the public will join us for this thought-provoking lecture.”

Interim Dean of Worcester Cathedral, The Revd Canon Dr Stephen Edwards, said: “Lord Adebowale’s lecture is a timely and important contribution to the debate about the future of the NHS. Valued by all, the NHS is a fundamental part of our national life and a vital foundation through which people receive healing, care, and are enabled to flourish. This partnership between the University and the Cathedral offers the city and region an opportunity to explore the key questions facing the health service and we are extremely grateful to Lord Adebowale for being with us.”

Ticket reservations are required. To get tickets email RSVP@worc.ac.uk by 4pm, Monday, October 2.