Transforming how healthcare is planned, delivered, and experienced is central to modernising our healthcare system. How do we transform healthcare to create more efficient, patient-centered, and responsive healthcare that meets the needs of individuals and populations in a more equitable and sustainable way? That is the central question we will be addressing at the 2025 National Health Summit.

Now going into its 21st year, this established event will feature healthcare leaders, practitioners and experts who will explore how the health and care system must adapt to face future challenges. One of the starkest of those challenges is the growth in the over-65s in Ireland currently at 800,000, but by 2031 that number will have reached 1,000,000 – in less than 30 years from now, that population will have doubled to 1.6 million.

Our growing and ageing population will have more people living longer with chronic health conditions. Our healthcare system must embrace the challenge of moving to a prevention first approach to healthcare, realising the potential of innovation to transform patients’ care pathways.