The future healthcare? Kate Charlesworth 1,2 MBBS(Hons), MPH, PhD Candidate Maggie Jamieson 1 BA, MPH, PhD, Associate Professor (Public Health) Colin D. Butler 1 BMedSci(Hons), BMed, DTM&H, MSc, PhD, Australian Research Council Future Fellow Rachel Davey 1 BSc(Hons), MMedSci, PhD, Director of Centre for Research and Action in Public Health (CeRAPH) 1 Faculty of Health, University of Canberra, Locked Bag 1, University of Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia. Email: maggie.jamieson@canberra.edu.au; colin.butler@canberra.edu.au; rachel.davey@canberra.edu.au 2 Corresponding author. Email: u3112211@uni.canberra.edu.au Abstract Background. Healthcare systems in Australia and around the world are failing to address the challenges of the modern world. Healthcare leaders are calling for radical, transformational change and entirely new systems of care. However it is unclear what a future, sustainable healthcare system would look like. Methods. A narrative review to examine emerging trends in health and social care was conducted. Results and Conclusions. Six key trends were identified. Collectively, they suggest that future systems are likely to be characterised by increasingly sophisticated technology, but at the same time greater personal and community responsibility for health and well being, innovative use of social capital, and a new approach to ageing and end-of-life care. What is known about the topic? Health care systems in Australia and around the world are failing to address the key health challenges of modern society. There are calls for radical, transformational change of our health care systems; however it is unclear what a future, sustainable system would look like. What does this paper add? In this narrative review, we identify and examine six key emerging trends in health and social care. Collectively, these trends suggest that future systems are likely to be characterised by increasingly sophisticated technology; but at the same time greater personal and community responsibility for health and well-being, innovative use of social capital, and a new approach to ageing and end-of-life-care. What are the implications for practitioners? It is becoming increasingly clear that radical change is necessary and there are emerging examples of novel and creative initiatives across many areas of practice. Practitioners need to be engaged in, contributing to and in some cases, leading, this transition to a new health and social care system. Received 10 December 2014, accepted 4 February 2015, published online 30 March 2015 Introduction It is becoming increasingly clear that our current health and social care systems are failing to meet the challenges of the modern world. 1,2 In Australia, our current health system is hindered by short-term, activity-based measures and incentives, a disconnect between federal and state funding, myopic planning and lack of overall vision. 3 There has been a demonstrable failure to address epidemics such as obesity, diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular disease and to ensure equitable access to healthcare services. 3 Further, we face several future challenges: rising costs of medical treatment and technologies; ageing population; population growth; and growing socioeconomic inequalities. 1–3 It is against this background that many healthcare leaders in Australia and around the world are calling for radical, transfor- mational change of our health and social care systems. 1–3 Two important questions must be asked: how will transformation occur? And where will it lead? Of course, ‘prediction is very difficult, especially about the future’ (attributed to Niels Bohr (1885–1962), Danish physicist and Nobel Prize laureate), but emerging trends provide insights into the likely future health system. Methods This narrative review developed as part of the early stages of the first author’s doctoral research. The starting point for the research was to investigate how health systems could become more environmentally sustainable. As the literature review pro- gressed, it became evident that in order to meet sustainability objectives, complete redesign of healthcare systems would be required. We began to consider what a future health system might look like and to identify the key emerging trends in Journal compilation Ó AHHA 2015 www.publish.csiro.au/journals/ahr CSIRO PUBLISHING Australian Health Review http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/AH14243