Our annual conference
Stand by me – A palliative care update
Michael Sobell Centre, Mount Vernon Hospital
Jane Wheeler. Chief Executive at Michael Sobell House & Harlington Hospice opening last year’s conference.
Join us for a day of learning, challenge and connection
Our annual Conference brings together health and social care professionals from across hospital, hospice, community and primary care settings for a thought-provoking day focused on the realities of palliative and end of life care.
Following the success of last year’s event, we are delighted to once again create a space for open conversation, shared learning and practical insight that supports and strengthens clinical practice.
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This year’s theme: Stand by Me
In palliative care, we are often called to stand alongside patients and families at their most vulnerable moments. This year’s programme explores the ethical, emotional and clinical complexities that shape that responsibility.
The day combines expert speakers, practical guidance and opportunities for questions, reflection and discussion.
Time | Length | Topic | Speaker | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
08.30-09.20 | Registration, coffee and pastries | |||
09.20-09.30 | 10mins | Opening of Conference | Jane Wheeler
(CEO Harlington Hospice) | |
09.30-09.55 | 25mins | More than Meets the Eye?
Unpacking Bioethics at the End of Life | Professor Roger Chung
(Co-Director, Centre for Bioethics &
Associate Professor, School of Public
Health and Primary Care
The Chinese University of Hong Kong) | |
09.55-10.20 | 25mins | Two Perspectives on Grief:
1. When a Mother Is Dying: Support
Needs of Fathers with Dependent
Children
2. Changing Care, Not the Person:
Neuro-Inclusive Grief Support | Dr Milly Hadland
(Lead Specialty Doctor, Harlington
Hospice)
Paula Boyle
(Principal Art Psychotherapist,
Harlington Hospice) | |
10.20-10.30 | 10mins | Panel Q&A | ||
10.30-10.55 | 25mins | Inclusivity – Who Cares? | Dr Gurpreet Gupta
(Consultant in Palliative Medicine) | |
10.55-11.10 | 15mins | Performance Poem | Molly Case RN
(Palliative Nurse and Performance Poet) | |
11.10-11.20 | 10mins | Panel Q&A | ||
11:30-11:45 | 15mins | Coffee and Move | ||
11.45-12.15 | 30mins | Top Tips in Symptom Control from the
Isle of Wight! | Dr Paul Howard
(Consultant in Palliative Medicine) | |
12.15-12.40 | 25mins | Rewilding Palliative Care
5 Relational Practices to transform
care for those with complex mental
health conditions | Dr Sarah Yardley
(Associate Professor Palliative Medicine
UCLH) | |
12.40-13.30 | 50mins | Lunch | ||
13.30-13.50 | 20mins | Deafness – Understanding the needs of
deaf people in palliative care settings | Dr Natasha Wilcock
(Specialty Doctor Palliative Care) | |
13.50-14.15 | 25mins | Distressed behaviour – strategies to
help | Dr Alli Tomlins
(Consultant Psychologist) | |
14.15-14.25 | 10mins | Panel Q&A | ||
14.25-14.45 | 20mins | Improving hospital discharges –
language matters? | Dr Calisha Allen
(Specialty Registrar Public Health) | |
14.45-15.00 | 15mins | When there is no next of kin after death | Deborah Lampard
(Financial Affairs Team Leader, Borough
of Hillingdon) | |
15.00-15.10 | 10mins | Panel Q&A & Tea | ||
15.10-15.30 | 20mins | Contemporary approaches to ’total
pain’ | Dr Ros Taylor
(Medical Director, Harlington Hospice) | |
15.30-15.40 | 10mins | Performance Poem | Molly Case
(Palliative Nurse and Performance Poet) | |
15.40-16.20 | 40mins | 5 cases – 5 stories – 5 mins | Various | |
16.20-16.30 | 10mins | Reflections and Close | Jane Wheeler
(CEO, Harlington Hospice) |
Who should attend?
This conference is open to all health and social care professionals working in palliative and end of life care, including:
- Doctors
- Nurses
- Allied health professionals
- Healthcare assistants
- Social workers
- Community and primary care teams
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Booking information
Registration: £75 per delegate
Places are limited so early booking is strongly recommended to avoid disappointment.
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Our 2025 Conference - Bridging Troubled Waters
You can find out more about last year’s conference “Bridging Troubled Waters”, including videos of the speakers and photos on our Conference 2025 page.
