Case study
ABPCO CASE
STUDY:
HEALTHCARE
CONFERENCES UK
AEN reviews winning case
studies from the Association
of British Professional
Conference Organisers most
recent Excellence Awards
HEALTHCARE CONFERENCES UK were
invited by The NHS Practitioner Health
Programme to produce their ‘Wounded
Healer’ Conference, held at The Royal
College of General Practitioners in
London on the 4-5 October 2018. The
aim of the not for profit event was to raise
awareness of the importance of supporting
the mental health and wellbeing of
healthcare practitioners and ultimately
reduce the prevalence of suicide within
the profession. Their client wanted the
conference to be positive and joyful.
Following a direct email campaign to
Healthcare Conferences UK’s database
of healthcare practitioners, including
psychiatrists and psychologists and
media coverage through The BMJ and
The Guardian, the event sold out with
over 350 delegates, 74 speakers/chairs
and 21 sponsors/supporters. They were
challenged with extra ‘VIP’ delegates
being squeezed in which meant they
had to set up overflow rooms with video
screens, provide a sandwich lunch for
staff and friends, and tightly control
entry and admissions. A full CPD certified
programme included many national and
high-level speakers leading in the field of
mental health and wellbeing, 3 breakout
sessions each offering a choice of 6
practical workshops over the two days, an
evening drinks reception and book signing
sessions.
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Highlights from the event included:
A choir who involved groups of
delegates in sessions over the course
of the two days and concluded with
full audience participation of; ‘We will
never walk alone’
Adam Kay, doctor, comedian and
author of This is Going to Hurt spoke
about his experience and learning from it
Simon Stevens, NHS England chief
executive announced funding to
expand NHS PHP services to support
all Doctors experiencing mental health
problems, from GPs to Consultants in all
hospitals in England
Delegates left moved and
inspired: “Amazing, at times almost
overwhelmingly so. To know that there
are so many other people out there
who care for physicians like me who
are broken is just brilliant,” read one
testimonial
The event was rated as Excellent in
85% of the delegate feedback forms
Dr Clare Gerada, medical
director at NHS PHP commented:
“I can’t praise Healthcare Conferences
UK enough. The team were all friendly,
calm, knowledgeable and efficient
from programme development and
venue booking through to onsite
management. I highly recommend
them and look forward to working with
them again in future.”
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