THE ANNUAL Global Innovation and New Technology (GIANT) Health Event spotlights innovation throughout the NHS, featuring expert-led panel sessions on emerging developments in healthcare delivery, technology, and policy. This is an event that brings together clinicians, thought-leaders, policymakers, health-technology entrepreneurs, investors, and more. The GIANT Health Event is a festival format with multiple separate conferences taking place at the same time all in one building. In 2025, the event comprised the Innovating NHS Systems Congress, the NHS National Procurement Show, The Operating Theatre in the Year 2030, and The Future Hospital Show.
THE INNOVATING NHS SYSTEMS CONGRESS
Chaired by Hassan Chaudhury, Commercial Director, The Health Data Research Hub for Cancer, London, UK, the Innovating NHS Systems Congress included sessions on AI, digital medication pathways like e-prescribing and electronic patient records, and digital tools for preventative care and community empowerment. A central theme was the implementation of AI-based triage within the NHS App to streamline appointment booking and improve access to care, highlighting both the potential efficiency gains and the operational challenges of deploying these tools at scale. Plus, the Congress hosted the Startup Showcase, which spotlighted a selection of Europe’s leading, award-winning health-tech innovation start-ups.
THE NHS NATIONAL PROCUREMENT SHOW
In light of the new national initiative to embed Value Based Procurement across the NHS, launched by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), the NHS National Procurement Show examined how procurement reform is shaping the adoption of medical technologies. Chaired by Rob Knott, EPR Commercial Director, Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust, UK, the programme brought together speakers from the NHS, DHSC, and commercial organisations. Discussions focused on how the life sciences, commercial, and procurement functions are coming together under a single national leadership team with a primary focus on ‘commercial and growth’. Other sessions addressed challenges in the commissioning, procuring, and scaling of AI-enabled workflow automation in the NHS. A highlight of the programme was an exclusive conversation between Sir Jim Mackey, CEO of NHS England; and Roy Lilley, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of nhsManagers.net, London, UK. Their discussion focused on change management and reorganisation in the NHS, and the impact of technology on today’s healthcare system.
THE OPERATING THEATRE IN THE YEAR 2030
On the second day of the GIANT Health Event, attendees discovered the evolving surgical environment, with emphasis on the design of the operating theatre, robotic surgery, and AI. The Chairperson, Rajesh Sivaprakasam, Lead for Robotic Renal Failure Surgery, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, UK, began with an overview of the current state of operating theatres in 2025. Throughout the Conference, multidisciplinary panels, including surgeons, anaesthetists, architects, and biomedical engineers, outlined how advances in infrastructure and technology have reshaped modern surgery. From the impact of air ventilation systems on infection risk, to the shape and size of the rooms themselves, attendees learnt how these often-overlooked aspects have contributed to the development of the modern surgical theatre. This was accompanied by discussions about the ongoing implementation of robotics, AI, and other innovations in surgery.
THE FUTURE HOSPITAL SHOW
Chaired by Shafi Ahmed, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, UK; and Chairman of GIANT Health, The Future Hospital Show brought together NHS operational leaders, national policymakers, transformation specialists, and innovators to examine the strategic and practical dimensions of hospital transformation. Sessions addressed strategy and execution across clinical, operational, and digital teams; digital advances in the pharmacy workforce; and the journey towards becoming a system of Integrated Health Organisations. Key discussions focused on improving the electronic patient record system, new digital infrastructure, and embedding smart systems and AI into the system.
SUMMARY
Overall, the 2-day event emphasised the importance of collaboration between innovators, policymakers, and frontline NHS staff. A recurring theme was the challenges found at the intersection of technological innovation and real-world implementation. Many sessions explored how to navigate this complexity within a rapidly evolving healthcare landscape. The event reinforced a shared commitment to addressing the challenges facing the NHS through innovation, partnership, and system-wide thinking. EMJ was pleased to attend GIANT Health 2025, and looks forward to returning for the 2026 event.
