Day 3: Thursday 27 November

Proactive Pharmacy: Future-proofing hospice care through medicine optimisation and digital innovation

This session is kindly supported by Ashtons.

With hospices under increasing clinical and financial pressure, this session explores how integrated pharmacy support can improve patient safety, reduce incidents, and support digital transformation. 

Drawing on real-world insights from over 50 hospices, we’ll examine how medicines optimisation, workforce training, and practical digital solutions can help future-proof services, while keeping care at the heart. 

The session will also introduce how Ashtons’ evolving role within the new Agentis Health Group is shaping next-generation support for the hospice sector. 

Speaker: 

• Graeme Whittaker, Head of Sales, Ashtons 

Chair: Cat Sullivan, Senior Clinical Practice & QI Manager, Hospice UK 

👥: Clinical

This session includes four presentations of abstracts submitted via our Call for Papers.  

These abstracts are published in an online conference supplement produced by BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care, an official journal of Hospice UK. 

👥: All delegates

Speakers:

• Simon Hopkins, Freelance charity director
• Jane Wheeler, CEO, Harlington Hospice
• Emily Carter, CEO, Royal Trinity Hospice
• Speaker from Insignis Cash 

Chair: Craig Duncan, COO, Hospice UK r

Kindly supported by our Gold sponsors, Insignis Cash

👥: CEOs, Trustees, Finance

Join this session to hear from experts at Hanover Communications about why stories matter, why it's critical we have a clear story to tell alongside assisted dying - and practical tips to make sure you have one at your hospice. 

Speakers: 

• James Mole, Director, Hanover Communications  

• Benjamin Smith, Account Director (Healthcare Policy, Advocacy and Public Affairs), Hanover Communications  

Chair: Charlie King, Director of External Affairs, Hospice UK 

👥: CEOs, Communications, Trustees

Session showcasing different hospice service models, including virtual wards, living well services, hospital in-reach services and single point of access.

These examples are highlighed in the new Hospice UK commissioning resource pack to support hospices and local health boards, which we launched in yesterday's parallel session about Commissioning support for local hospice services.

Speakers:

• Dr Annabel Howell, Medical Director, Children's Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS)

• Sara Robins, Director of Clinical Services and Deputy CEO, Arthur Rank Hospice Charity 

• Michelle Knight, Matron and Palliative Care Hub Service Lead at the Alan Hudson Centre, Arthur Rank Hospice Charity

• Heather McLelland, Chief Nurse, St Gemma's Hospice

• Dr Amy Gadoud, Honorary Community Consultant in Palliative Medicine, Trinity Hospice & Palliative Care Services; National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Research Delivery Network National Lead for Palliative Care
• Emma Dawson, Advanced Practitioner and Virtual Ward Lead, Trinity Hospice Blackpool 

Chair: Anita Hayes, Clinical Quality Lead, Hospice UK 

👥: CEOs, Clinical

Session on cultures and faiths, TBC

Speaker:

George Gumisiriza, PhD Candidate, Centre for Death and Society (CDAS), University of Bath

👥: All delegates

Members of the Hospice UK Income Generation Leaders Network are invited to meet up with their peers.

 👥: Income Generation

This session presents a clinical quality and data approach from St Richard’s Hospice.

Speakers:

• Dr Sarah Onions, St Richards Hospice
• Emily Watts, Data manager, St Richards Hospice

Chair: Julia Russell, Senior Clinical Practice & QI Manager, Hospice UK

👥: Clinical

This session includes four presentations of abstracts submitted via our Call for Papers.  

These abstracts are published in an online conference supplement produced by BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care, an official journal of Hospice UK. 

👥: All delegates

Join us for a panel event with inspiring hospice leaders as we dive into a warm and honest conversation about what it truly means to lead with compassion.

 Together, we’ll explore how showing vulnerability can strengthen teams, how to recognise and support staff experiencing burnout, and how to build a workplace culture that genuinely cares, especially during life’s most difficult moments. 

Expect real stories, practical ideas, and a powerful reminder that compassionate leadership isn’t just a ‘nice to have’, it’s essential for delivering exceptional patient care. 

Speakers:

• Toby Porter, Chief Executive, Hospice UK
• Katharine Horler, Chair, Thames Hospice
• Michael Crowther, CEO, The Kirkwood

Chair: Lucy Carpenter, Compassionate Employers Lead, Hospice UK 

👥: CEOs and leadership, Trustees, People and Human Resources

A facilitated workshop sharing models and approaches for delivering care in rural communities.

Chair: Helen Malo, Senior Policy and Public Affairs Manager (Scotland), Hospice UK and author Bringing care closer to home: improving palliative care in remote, rural and island communities London: Hospice UK; 2025. 

👥: Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, Community Engagement, Clinical

A session on recruiting talent tbc.

👥: People and Human Resources

A session on commercial income generation tbc.

👥: Income Generation