Health’s Hydra: Confronting the challenge of multimorbidity in the NHS and beyond

Multimorbidity, the presence of multiple long-term conditions (MLTC), is one of the greatest challenges confronting healthcare systems globally. In England, more than one in four adults live with two or more chronic conditions, with the burden disproportionately affecting deprived communities. These conditions often cluster in complex and unpredictable ways, posing significant challenges for care delivery, coordination and resource allocation.

This lecture delves into the multifaceted nature of MLTC and addresses critical questions facing primary care. Key topics include the skill mix and training required for primary care teams to manage multimorbidity, strategies for developing patient-centred care pathways that minimise treatment burden, and the integration of preventive approaches into routine practice.

Professor Greg Irving is an academic general practitioner with an interest in primary care research focusing on multiple long-term conditions and service delivery.
Educated in Nottingham, Oxford and Liverpool, he has studied at Harvard University as a global clinical scholar and worked as a clinical lecturer in Cambridge. He has received three consecutive personal National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Fellowships. He has secured external grant funding of over £9 million and has consistently featured in the Stanford World Top 1% of scientists in his field. Greg’s work has contributed to over 70 policy reports on primary care across 30 organisations, including the WHO, OECD, European Observatory, World Bank and NICE.

Programme/running order:

5.30pm Welcome reception
6pm Inaugural lecture
7pm Networking opportunity