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Health Innovation North 2026

Posted: 14th September 2026

Health Innovation North conference returns on Thursday 22 October, bringing together healthcare professionals, innovators and stakeholders from across the North of England to explore how innovation can improve population health and drive economic growth.

Hosted by the four Northern health innovation networks – Health Innovation Yorkshire & Humber, Health Innovation North West Coast, Health Innovation Manchester, and Health Innovation North East and North Cumbria – the conference will take place at the Hilton Newcastle Tyne Bridge.

The event will showcase innovative approaches that are already making a difference across health and care, while exploring how successful innovations can be adopted and scaled to deliver greater impact for patients, communities and the wider economy.

Kathy Scott, Deputy CEO at Health Innovation Yorkshire & Humber, said:

“Some of the most exciting health innovation is happening across the North, but developing a great idea is only the beginning. The real opportunity is to turn innovation into widespread adoption that improves care, tackles health inequalities and strengthens our economy.

The Health Innovation North conference brings together the people and organisations who can make that happen. By sharing what works, connecting innovators with those who need their solutions, and working across organisational boundaries, we can accelerate the adoption of innovation and create lasting benefits for patients, our diverse communities and the wider economy.”

Through a programme of presentations, workshops and panel discussions, Health Innovation North will explore emerging ideas, and present the health and care solutions, that are being quickly and effectively adopted as best practice by the NHS, and the wider healthcare system.

Delegates will have the opportunity to hear from thought leaders, discover innovative solutions, share learning and make new connections with organisations working to improve health and care across the North.

The conference provides a platform to connect innovation with opportunity – helping innovators, healthcare organisations and partners work together to turn promising ideas into solutions that can be adopted at scale.

Health Innovation North 2025

Last year the conference attracted huge interest, with 300 in attendance and another 200 watching via a livestream.

It brought together leaders from health, care, academia, and industry to share innovative thinking and best practice in delivering the ambitions of the Government’s 10-Year Health Plan and Life Sciences Sector Plan.

The aim was to inspire innovative thinking and showcase the health and care concepts being rapidly adopted as best practice across the NHS and the wider healthcare system.

Sir James Mackey, CEO of NHS England, was the first keynote speaker and he acknowledged current challenges facing the NHS and urged colleagues to ‘get behind’ the key priorities of the 10-Year Plan.

In a brief interview after his presentation, Sir James described how health innovation networks help to shape and spread innovations and have a convening role in bringing together partners from across the system, to deliver the ambitions set out in the 10-Year Plan.

Tom Riordan CBE, Second Permanent Secretary at Department of Health and Social Care, spoke about the importance of collaboration between health, care, industry, and local government in creating healthier and more prosperous communities.

Recordings of each session are available to view as follows: