SPPC Annual Conference

From System Holes to Whole System

John McIntyre Conference Centre, Edinburgh

12 November 2025

Catch up with colleagues from across Scotland and make new connections at the Scottish Partnership for Palliative Care Annual Conference.

Hear new and challenging perspectives, take part in interactive sessions and be energised and inspired.

View the Conference Programme here: Conference Programme

Exploring a whole system approach

As someone approaches the end of life they may need a range of supports – from health services, from social care services, from the welfare system, and from family, friends and their communities. Over the course of the day we will explore how this complex web of supports can work more effectively as a system to improve people’s experiences of living with serious illness, dying and bereavement.

Book now!

Book by 30 September to get the Early Bird Discount: Book tickets

Plenary Sessions

Whole System Approaches to Palliative Care

Toby Lowe, Professor of Public Management at Manchester Metropolitan University and Vsiting Professor at Centre for Public Impact

Toby’s opening session will give us a clear framework for thinking about “a whole system approach” during the rest of the day.

What do people mean by “the system”? What is the connection between the system and meaningful outcomes in people’s lives? How could things be managed and organised differently to achieve the improvements we want to see?

Toby will draw on practical examples and provide opportunities for interaction.

People and Family Experiences

Jo Bowden,Consultant in Palliative Medicine & University of St Andrews Clinical Research Fellow

Stephen Fenning, Consultant in Palliative Medicine

30,000 people are diagnosed with cancer each year in Scotland. A third of these people live less than a year, and their pathways, experiences and outcomes are largely unknown to “the system”.

In this session Jo, Stephen and colleagues will share the latest learning from the major i-Qual-PPC research study which is tackling this invisibility. What do people and their families experience? What do they really value about the system and what needs to change? How might this study inform improvement for people with other conditions?

The Trees of Hallaig: roots of care, leaves of memory

Donald Macaskill, Chief Executive, Scottish Care

Each day in Scotland tens of thousands of people depend on staff in care homes, care at home and housing support to enable them to live as well as possible until they die.

In this session Donald will explore the often unseen and undervalued role of social care staff in providing physical, practical, social, emotional and spiritual support to both individuals and their family members.

What can other parts of the system learn from social care?

Community First

Cormac Russel, Managing Director, Nurture Development

People live and die in communities, and each community impacts on people’s experiences, for better or for worse.

Institutions and healthcare systems often struggle to get their heads round notions of community.

In this session Cormac will help us think about “community” in new ways. How can institutions and professionals truly serve communities? Prepare to be challenged.

Parallel Sessions

Delegates can choose from four parallels sessions, each tackling a topic of system-wide relevance and impact.

Session A: A system for everyone: psychological care and a trauma informed approach

Clare McGowan, Consultant Clinical Psychologist. Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre and the National Haematopoetic Stem Cell Transplant Service

In this session Clare will reflect on the psychological care and support which people often need, and the roles played by different health and social care professionals in addressing different levels of complexity. She will then consider how a trauma-informed approach can help to ensure that the system serves people who may find it difficult to engage with services.

Session B: Palliating Uncertainty: Tools from the Philosophy of Pragmatism

Ariel Dempsey, Physician and postdoctoral fellow in the University of Oxford Faculty of Theology and Religion

“Medicine is a science of uncertainty…”

~William Osler, Father of Modern Medicine

Uncertainty is inherent to the practice of palliative care. In this session, we’ll explore insights from the philosophy of pragmatism and discover practical tools to help you, your colleagues, and your patients not just manage uncertainty, but act in the midst of it and live with it well.

Session C: Introducing the potential of AI within Public Health and Healthcare Systems in Scotland

Chris Harkins, Public Health Programme Manager, Glasgow Centre for Population Health

Artificial Intelligence is all around us. It is changing the world in ways which are scary and ways which are full of potential for good. In this session Chris will provide an introduction to the role of AI in Scotland’s public health and healthcare. He’ll consider AI’s capacity to supplement clinical practice and decision-making, analyse vast amounts of complex population health data at near instantaneous speed, improve healthcare systems efficiency, and personalise patient care. He will also consider how ethical frameworks, good governance, careful evaluation and understanding how the public feels about AI in healthcare, can mitigate some of the risks which this technological revolution brings.

Call for Posters

Are you involved in an interesting project or in an area of work that you would like to discuss with or show to other conference attendees? Why not present your work in the poster exhibition. Details here.

Exhibition Stands

Something to promote or display to delegates? The exhibitor area at the conference provides generous space for exhibitions and displays with easy access to the catering area, seating, posters and breakout rooms. You can download an exhibitor application form here.

The closing date for submission of applications for poster proposals or exhibition stands is Monday 29 September 2025.

Book Now

Book by 30 September to get the Early Bird Discount! Ticket rates and bookings are available here: Book tickets