The NHS is one of the great success stories of the past 70 years bringing free treatment and better health to millions. But we also know that the NHS - and all of us - face real challenges. These challenges provoke many questions: How does the NHS work? Do we have a caring society? Should we focus more on prevention of illness through better living and creating healthier cities? How should we use technology? This series seeks to open up these and other discussions and explore the current and potential future shape and state of our health and care system.

What is a Healthy City and what are Healthy Communities?

10:00 - 11:30

A 'happy and healthy city' is the key theme of Bristol's year as the European Green Capital in 2015 - but the health of a city or region depends on more than the specific healthcare institutions within it. Contributors from public health, the city council and Bristol's Green Capital project for 2015 discuss what 'healthy city and communities' mean in practice, including how the systems that shape the city and its functions can promote or undermine health. Book tickets for this session here.

How do we support mental as well as physical health?

12:00 - 13:00

One in four of us will experience mental health problems in the coming year. The cost of poor mental health to individuals, their families and society as a whole is significant yet the response to this challenge focuses on the traditional, or formal, health and care system; institutions that are visible. However, the system itself relies on a large amount of other resources, most notably networks in communities and families. How can these formal and informal resources come together and contribute to a caring society that recognises and supports vulnerability? Book tickets for this session here.

Do We Have a Caring Society?

14:00 - 15:00

The health and care system tends to be defined by the institutions that are visible within it - but the system itself relies on a large amount of other resources, notably networks in communities and families and the growing body of individual carers whose work can often go unacknowledged. How do these contribute to a caring society? Book tickets for this session here.

Ticket prices: £7.00 full / £6.00 concessions. See booking links for each individual session above.

Special ticket offer: Book a season ticket (6 events) for the Autumn Festival of Health programme for £30.00 full / £25.00 concessions. This offer is not available online, please call Box Office on 0117 927 5100 or visit in person.

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