The Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce (TVCC) Health and Life Sciences Working Group (HLSWG) recently convened senior leaders from industry, the NHS, academia, and policy to address key opportunities and challenges shaping the region’s healthcare landscape.
Hosted in partnership with James Cowper Kreston and Green Park, the business-led working group explored how digital innovation can be effectively deployed across the NHS and wider health sector, the pathway from innovation to commercial success, and how the Thames Valley can continue to showcase its leadership in delivering the ambitions of the UK’s Women’s Health Strategy.
The session also examined priorities within the Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP), identifying next steps to strengthen workforce development and ensure the sector is equipped to meet future demands.
Sue Staunton, Chair of the HLSWG and Partner and Head of Life Sciences at James Cowper Kreston, said
It was another excellent session. The breadth of content and the quality of speakers made for a truly engaging discussion. Each speaker raised important points that clearly resonated across the group.
Tony Bellis, TVCC Board Member, added
This was a really interesting session with excellent speakers. The ‘news from members’ segment continues to grow in value, sparking meaningful conversations beyond the meeting itself.
A central focus of the meeting was the implementation of the Women’s Health Strategy. TVCC is working alongside the Health Innovation Network – Oxford and Thames Valley (HINOTV) and HLSWG members to highlight best practice and position the Thames Valley as a leader in this critical area.
Katherine Edwards, Director of Patient Safety and Clinical Improvement at HINOTV, emphasised both the opportunity and responsibility facing the region
It’s about demonstrating that women’s health is not only a societal imperative, but also good business. The Thames Valley has the potential to lead nationally, if not globally, in this space.
While welcoming the Strategy’s framework and government commitment, Edwards highlighted the importance of implementation, noting the need to address challenges around prioritisation, resources, and delivery. She concluded with a call to action:
“If our approach to health and care does not work for all women – 51% of the population – then it does not work. What can the Thames Valley and the HLSWG do to help?”
The meeting also showcased cutting-edge clinical innovation. Ingrid Stracker, Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) Clinical Specialist Lead at Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, demonstrated how this underutilised technology is transforming patient care. Through real-world case studies, she illustrated how POCUS enables rapid bedside diagnosis, improving patient safety while offering significant cost-saving potential for the NHS.
Stracker highlighted both the global appetite for UK-led innovation and the importance of workforce training to support technology adoption:
Collaboration is essential. Forums like the HLSWG and initiatives such as the LSIP play a vital role in sharing knowledge and accelerating innovation.
The group also welcomed Lord Lionel Tarassenko, President of Reuben College, University of Oxford, who shared insights on translating healthcare innovation into commercial success. Drawing on two decades of digital transformation, he explored applications in areas such as gestational diabetes management and the growing role of digital health tools.
Lord Tarassenko addressed key challenges, including the lack of scale-up funding for UK businesses, and discussed opportunities presented by AI, the NHS Ten-Year Plan, and the development of a Single Patient Record. He also encouraged wider participation in national initiatives such as the Our Future Health programme.
He said:
The Thames Valley possesses many of the ingredients required to become a leading global centre for healthcare innovation. The challenge is ensuring that world-class research and technological advances can be translated into scalable solutions that deliver real benefits for patients and the economy
The session concluded with member updates, including contributions from the University of Reading, Oxford Brookes University, and Boehringer Ingelheim, highlighting collaboration opportunities, skills development initiatives, and investment in AI innovation.
TVCC also provided an update on the Local Skills Improvement Plan, outlining progress and calling on members to engage in shaping phase two priorities across health and life sciences, including digital transformation, workforce development, productivity, and emerging technologies.
Next Working Group meeting
The next working group meeting is scheduled for Thursday 5th November and focus on the topic of funding/finance. TVCC welcomes businesses with a direct interest in the sector to join the HLSWG.
Register your interest in attending HERE.
About the TVCC’s Thames Valley’s Health and Life Sciences working group
TVCC hosts the Thames Valley’s only region-wide, curated, life sciences working group.
Incorporating the Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) Workforce Development Partnership for Health and Life Sciences, our industry-led group serves as a vital platform for collaboration, convening global corporates, innovative SMEs, academic institutions and educational establishments, NHS trusts, government stakeholders, professional bodies, and pre-eminent thought leaders.
An inclusive group, we welcome TVCC members, and non-members, with a specific and evidential knowledge and expertise in the sector. Find our more here.
