Sheffield children's health expert creates key conference on future of healthcare

The UK’s first Child Health Technology Conference next month will bring together some of the country’s top experts in improving the health and care of children and young people.
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The conference, founded by Professor of Child Health at Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, Paul Dimitri, will showcase the latest in child health technology, and help create collaborations between professionals and patient representatives to drive future innovation in healthcare, technology, academia and computer science.

Originally the event was due to be hosted in Sheffield but Covid-19 restrictions mean it is now being held virtually between March 2 and 5.

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The launch of the conference follows plans to create a National Centre for Child Health Technology (CCHT) in Sheffield. The centre, hailed as the first of its kind in the world, is set to change the future of healthcare.

Sheffield child health expert Prof Paul Dimitri, who has organised a ground-breaking conference on how technology can improve healthcareSheffield child health expert Prof Paul Dimitri, who has organised a ground-breaking conference on how technology can improve healthcare
Sheffield child health expert Prof Paul Dimitri, who has organised a ground-breaking conference on how technology can improve healthcare

The centre will focus on key national strategic priorities including obesity, mental health, long-term conditions, prevention, disability and cancer.

The £20m investment into the centre could return up to £200m to the NHS in the future.

Prof Dimitri said: “At Sheffield Children’s we focus on helping children and young people now, as well as looking at how we can do more to improve their care in the future.

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"This conference will help healthcare professionals harness the same vision and to shape the future of technology’s place in the treatment and care of children and young people.

“Sheffield hosts networks that provide the foundation and expertise to accelerate adoption of technologies.

"This includes our plans for the National Centre for Child Health Technology (CCHT) which will be based in Sheffield and further drive child health technology in the NHS.

"The conference will become the platform for the UK to be the world leader in child health technology.

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“In Sheffield and across the country, I have worked for many years with colleagues building networks and this is a fantastic culmination of academics, healthcare professionals and many more individuals and organisations from across the globe who are committed to developing the world’s best healthcare for children and young people.

“At a time when long-term conditions in childhood affect millions of children and cost the NHS billions of pounds annually, it’s critical to create more opportunity for cross disciplinary networking and collaboration.”

The launch of the conference follows plans for the National Centre for Child Health Technology (CCHT) in Sheffield. The centre, hailed by global industry leaders as the first of its kind in the world, is set to change the future of healthcare. It will focus on key national strategic priorities including obesity, mental health, long-term conditions, prevention, disability and cancer The £20m investment into the centre could return up to £200m to the NHS in the future.

Conference speakers include:

· Dr Louise Wood CBE (Director of Science, Research and Evidence, Department of Health and Social Care)

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· Professor Tony Young (National Clinical Lead for Innovation, NHS England)

· Liz Ashall-Payne (Founder and CEO, ORCHA)

· David Cole (Head of Business Development and Innovation EMEA, IBM Watson Health)

· Gareth Presch (Founder and CEO, World Health Innovation Summit).

The conference will also feature talks from patient advocates with lived experience as well as professional experts in patient involvement and co-design.

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CHT2021 is being organised by National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Children and Young People MedTech Cooperative and Marketing Sheffield.

The conference is event managed by Sheffield company, Event Management Direct.

Registration is now open at www.childhealthtechnology.com

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