Dr Mary McCarthy: Health professionals get together for informative and inspiring conference

The event took place at the Lantern Centre in Shrewsbury and I was among the speakers invited to take part in what was a day of influential speeches and debates covering issues on a national and local level.

Following an introduction from the chair of the Co-operative Party, organisers of the event, an ex-Labour health minister spoke about the impact of the Health and Social Care Act.

He called for a greater integration of health and social care, acknowledging that it is often difficult to see where hospital care ended and social care began.

As hospital care is free and social care is means tested, difficulties arise affecting frail and elderly people who tolerate poor conditions rather than using their savings to pay for the substantial nursing home fees. With the population living longer than ever before, vulnerable older patients with more complex health needs would benefit from an integrated form of care that is both safe and supportive.

A consultant paediatrician in south London spoke about his involvement in the successful campaign to save Lewisham hospital. Following a successful public relations exercise attracting an overwhelming amount of public support, the campaigners launched a successful high court challenge against the government's proposal to close down the hospital.

It was an inspiring talk demonstrating the power of the local community. One of the conference organisers spoke about the excellent care her daughter received at Lewisham Hospital following an emergency.

Pete Gillard, a patient representative on the Clinical Commissioning Group board, discussed plans to reorganise Shropshire's health service and was a powerful advocate for the importance of having a strong patient voice on health committees.

Vulnerable

It wasn't all talk, as one of the speakers delighted the audience with a blues rendition version of Beatles hit Help following her moving and important speech on loss of support for vulnerable patients.

During lunch we had the opportunity to attend workshops on some of the important health and social issues facing the community: Adult Social Care, Making Sense of Life and Death and Mental Health Issues for all.

By kind invitation, I presented after lunch on current problems arising from GP shortages and difficulties attracting young doctors to general practice.

This was followed by a forceful speech from the Shropshire Chair of Defend our NHS.

I was impressed by the wealth of knowledge on display throughout the day; Shropshire certainly has some vigorous and informed speakers, as was evident from the engaging panel discussion.

All in all, it was an enlightening and enjoyable day and I'm sure I was not the only person who left with a sense of how important it is to provide continued health and social care support. As Nye Bevan said: "The NHS will survive as long as the people want it to."