Exploring Charity and the Mixed Economy of Healthcare: reflections from the Border Crossings Conference, October 2024
On October 24–25, 2024, the Border Crossings team hosted an interdisciplinary conference at the iconic BMA House in London. As part of the Wellcome Trust Collaborative Award, the event brought together researchers, practitioners, and historians to investigate the complex relationship between charity and the mixed economy of healthcare.
Over two days, 22 speakers shared their insights across four panels that highlighted critical questions on the history of healthcare funding and philanthropy. These included thought-provoking sessions on hospital endowments’ contemporary reckonings with their profits from the slave trade, and lessons from the broader diversification of incomes streams in the NHS.
Our keynote speaker, Nora Kenworthy, from the University of Washington, delivered an insightful presentation titled Crowded Out: Charitable Crowdfunding and the Politics of Health Provision in the US, which captivated the audience with its fresh perspective on healthcare funding dynamics.
Sharing research and engaging in global conversations
Our team presented key findings from our four-year investigation into the role of charity and voluntarism in NHS since its inception in 1948. This research, rooted in both social science and historical analysis, investigates the shifting role of charity over time, from Aneurin Bevan’s 1946 condemnation of the ‘caprice of private charity’ in healthcare, to the remarkable impact of NHS Charities Together’s Urgent COVID-19 Appeal.
Discussions at the conference extended beyond the UK, with international scholars providing fresh perspectives on how healthcare systems around the world navigate the interplay between philanthropy and public funding. The diversity of topics—from the ethical questions tied to historical hospital philanthropy to the contemporary reliance on charitable funding during crises—underscored the need for a nuanced understanding of charity’s role in healthcare sustainability.
A platform for future exploration
We extend our gratitude to all speakers and attendees who contributed to this intellectually stimulating event. The conversations sparked at BMA House remind us of the value of interdisciplinary collaboration in tackling some of the most pressing challenges in healthcare today.
Funded by Wellcome