Planning for Progress – Why Your 2026 Health and Care Budget Should Include Continuous Improvement

RECORDED February 2026

DURATION 35 minutes

FORMAT Expert healthcare panel

As ICBs and NHS Trusts finalise their 2026 budgets, this timely episode examines a critical question: why should continuous improvement capability be a strategic investment, not an afterthought? Host Darren Jones, former strategic adviser to the NHS, is joined by Dr Felix Davies, Healthcare Director, and Sajid Khan, Healthcare Managing Consultant at Develop Consulting, to explore why organisations with quality improvement teams still struggle to deliver sustainable change – and what leaders need to do differently.

Our Panel:

Host: Darren Jones – Former Strategic Adviser to the NHS

Guests:

Dr Felix Davies – Healthcare Director, Develop Consulting
Sajid Khan – Healthcare Managing Consultant, Develop Consulting

Key Topics:

Why continuous improvement is seen as tactical rather than strategic in most organisations
The fundamental difference between having a QI team and building CI capability
What genuine investment in continuous improvement actually looks like in budget terms
Why efficiency programmes extract value whilst CI capability creates value
The role of board development and leadership in embedding improvement
How to build capability at all levels, not just central teams
Why CI capability is essential for meeting 2026 statutory requirements
The long-term ROI organisations should expect from proper CI investment

Who Should Listen:

CFOs and Finance Directors finalising 2026 budgets
ICB leaders coordinating improvement across provider organisations
Trust Chief Executives and Board members
Directors of Quality, Improvement and Transformation
Quality Improvement and Continuous Improvement teams
Operational leaders responsible for delivering efficiency programmes
Anyone involved in healthcare budget planning and strategic decision-making

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