St Clare Hospice Palliative Care Conference 2025: The future of end of life care
The St Clare Hospice Palliative Care Conference 2025 will be taking place on Friday 10th October 2025 (9am – 5pm) at The Harlow Hotel.
Healthcare and social care professionals and providers from across the country will come together to explore this year’s theme ‘The future of end of life care’.
Friday 10th October
Harlow Hotel
8.30am – 5pm
In an ever-evolving healthcare landscape, how do we ensure that compassion, dignity and patient voices remain central to end-of-life care? Our full-day conference brings together professionals from across disciplines to reflect, learn and imagine the future of palliative care.
Be the first to know about early bird tickets for our next conference!
Bookings for our 2025 Conference have now closed.
Our next St Clare Hospice Palliative Care Conference will be taking place in 2027.
If you would like to stay up-to-date with the latest news about the conference, please register your interest below.
Meet our plenary speakers
Toby Porter – CEO of Hospice UK
Toby joined Hospice UK as its Chief Executive in September 2022, having previously been Chief Executive of Acorns Children’s Hospice. Prior to joining the hospice sector, he was Chief Executive at HelpAge International. During this role, he was invited to join the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council on Population Ageing. Toby’s earlier career was largely dedicated to humanitarian aid, working for Save the Children and Oxfam. He is also a College Advisor and Mentor at Green Templeton College, Oxford University. Toby Porter will be providing insights from the national landscape of hospice and palliative care.
Dr Simon Etkind – Assistant Professor (Honorary Consultant) in Palliative Care
Simon studied medicine at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, before undertaking postgraduate integrated academic training in London, Sussex and the East of England. His clinical-academic role involves clinical work as a consultant in palliative medicine at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, contribution to medical student reaching at the University of Cambridge Clinical School and research as co-lead of the PELiCam palliative and end of life care research group.
His research focuses on improving care for people living with multiple illnesses or clinical syndromes, such as frailty, with a particular interest in the uncertainties inherent to complex illness trajectories, the effect these have on care experience and outcomes and how healthcare professionals can optimise care to communicate and address uncertainty. Dr Etkind will be exploring the uncertainty in serious illness and the impact on effective care planning.
Sharon Allen OBE – Chief Executive of Arthur Rank Hospice
Sharon joined Arthur Rank Hospice as CEO in 2018. A qualified social worker, she achieved her MBA from the University of Bradford in 2002 and was awarded an OBE in 2015 for services to homeless people, social care and housing. Prior to joining Arthur Rank Hospice, she was CEO at Skills for Care and was previously CEO of St Anne’s Community Services. Sharon has over 30 years’ experience of public service provision in social care and supported housing provision, most of this working in the charity sector. She is a board member and chair of Operations Committee, a trustee of Age UK and a patron of Cambridgeshire Care Provider Alliance. In her session, Sharon will be exploring the future of the palliative care workforce.
Hayley Lamb and Louise Harris – Haylo Theatre Company
This two-woman theatre company uses the arts to explore and engage with issues affecting communities. Through the dramatic arts, they serve to highlight key topics within areas of health and social care by bringing together students, professionals and the public to create a space for dialogue.
Hayley and Louise focus on real stories and examine real outcomes, seeing to generate conversations about taboo subjects that impact on people’s lives, such as terminal illness, dementia and death. They will be returning to the conference with a unique performance exploring the emotional narratives of patients, carers and professionals.
This year’s St Clare Hospice Palliative Care Conference has been kindly sponsored by
Thank you to Harlow Health Centre Trust and One Step at a Time for their support of the St Clare Hospice Palliative Care Conference 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions
Event
What is the St Clare Hospice Palliative Care Conference 2025?
The St Clare Hospice Palliative Care Conference 2025 is a biannual event dedicated to advancing knowledge, best practice and innovation in palliative and end-of-life care.
Hosted by St Clare Hospice, it brings together healthcare professionals, clinicians, researchers and care providers from across the UK to explore the latest developments in palliative care, patient-centred approaches and integrated support for people with life-limiting illnesses.
Taking place in October 2025, the conference offers a platform for expert speakers, panel discussions and breakout sessions and is a valuable opportunity to gain continuing professional development (CPD), share knowledge and collaborate on improving standards of care.
Who should attend the St Clare Hospice Palliative Care Conference?
The St Clare Hospice Palliative Care Conference is designed for both generalists and specialists working in healthcare and the social care sector. This includes GPs, nurses, allied health professionals, care home staff, hospice teams, social workers and anyone involved in delivering or commissioning palliative and end-of-life care.
Whether you work in a hospital, community setting, care home or voluntary sector, the conference offers valuable insights, evidence-based learning and continuing professional development (CPD) to support high-quality, compassionate care for people with life-limiting conditions.
What topics will be covered?
Our 2025 conference will cover a wide range of key topics relevant to both generalist and specialist health and social care professionals around this year’s theme of The Future of End-of-Life Care. The programme will focus on improving the quality of palliative and end-of-life care, with expert-led sessions and panel discussions exploring areas such as:
- Advanced symptom management and pain control
- Frailty
- Managing crisis at end of life
- Uncertainty in palliative care
- Collision and social deprivation
- The future of the palliative care workforce
These topics are designed to equip professionals with the latest knowledge, practical tools, and evidence-based approaches to deliver compassionate, high-quality care for people with life-limiting conditions.
Will there be virtual or hybrid attendance options for the 2025 conference?
No, the St Clare Hospice Palliative Care Conference 2025 will be an in-person only event, with no virtual or hybrid attendance options available.
The conference will take place at The Harlow Hotel in Essex, offering delegates a valuable opportunity for face-to-face learning, networking, and collaborative discussion with professionals across the health and social care sectors.
To gain the full benefit of the expert-led sessions and networking opportunities, we encourage all attendees to join us in person on the day.
What time does registration open on the day?
Registration opens at 8.30am with a 9am start for the conference.
Will catering be provided at the conference?
Yes! Tea, coffee, and refreshments will be available throughout the day to keep attendees refreshed.
Additionally, a delicious buffet lunch is included with your conference ticket, providing a great opportunity to network and relax between sessions.
If you have any specific dietary requirements or allergies, the venue will be happy to accommodate you with suitable meal alternatives.
Please make sure to inform us of your dietary needs when you register to ensure your requirements are met.
Tickets
How do I register for the St Clare Palliative Care Conference 2025?
To register for the St Clare Hospice Palliative Care Conference 2025, simply visit the St Clare Hospice website and go to the Events section.
There, you’ll find full details about the conference and a secure online registration form. Early booking is recommended as places are limited and demand is high for this biannual palliative care event.
If you have any questions, or need help with your booking, you can contact the St Clare Hospice Education team by emailing them at education@stclarehospice.org.uk.
What is the cost to attend?
Tickets cost £125 per person, which includes full access to all conference sessions, expert speaker presentations, breakout sessions, CPD certification, refreshments and lunch.
If you are a student, you can book your conference place for just £45. This one-day event offers exceptional value for healthcare professionals seeking to enhance their knowledge and skills in palliative and end-of-life care.
Places are limited, so early booking is recommended to secure your spot.
What is the cancellation or refund policy for delegate bookings?
If you need to cancel your booking for the St Clare Hospice Palliative Care Conference 2025, please contact us promptly by emailing education@stclarehospice.org.uk.
To receive a full refund, cancellations must be made by 31st August 2025. Cancellations received after this date will incur a 25% administration fee deducted from the refund amount.
We recommend contacting the conference team as early as possible to discuss your cancellation or any changes to your booking.
Unfortunately, refunds cannot be processed without prior notification via email.
CPD accreditation
Is the St Clare Hospice Palliative Care Conference CPD accredited?
Yes, the St Clare Hospice Palliative Care Conference is CPD accredited, offering Continuing Professional Development (CPD) hours for all attendees.
This event is approved by the Federation of the Royal Colleges of Physicians of the United Kingdom for 6 category 1 (external) CPD credit(s). Code: 148385
Healthcare and social care professionals who participate in the conference will receive a CPD certificate of attendance, which can be used as evidence of ongoing professional learning and development.
This makes the conference an ideal opportunity for professionals looking to stay updated on best practices in palliative and end-of-life care while meeting their CPD requirements.
Venue
How can I get to the conference and is there parking?
The St Clare Hospice Palliative Care Conference 2025 will be held at The Harlow Hotel, located at Southern Way, Harlow, Essex, CM18 7BA. Here’s how you can get to the venue by car, train, and bus, along with parking information:
- By car: The Harlow Hotel is easily accessible via the M11 motorway. From the M11, take junction 7 onto the A414 towards Harlow. Follow signs for Southern Way (A1169). The hotel is located just off Southern Way, with ample on-site parking available free of charge for conference attendees. There is plenty of space for cars, coaches, and disabled parking.
- By train: The nearest train station is Harlow Town Station, which is well connected to London Liverpool Street (approximately 30-40 minutes journey). From Harlow Town Station, you can take a taxi to The Harlow Hotel—it’s about a 5-minute drive—or catch a local bus (see below). Taxi services are readily available outside the station.
- By bus: Several local bus routes serve the area around The Harlow Hotel. From Harlow Town Station, you can take bus numbers 510 or 515 towards Southern Way or nearby stops. Check local timetables in advance for the most convenient service on the day of the conference.
Is the conference venue accessible?
Our 2025 conference will be held at a venue that offers good accessibility for most attendees.
The main conference sessions will take place on the ground floor, ensuring easy access for people with mobility needs.
Please note that one of the three breakout rooms is located on the first floor and can only be reached via stairs. If you’re interested in a session taking place in this room, please let the St Clare Hospice team know in advance—we’ll do our best to make suitable arrangements.
If you require assistance or have any specific accessibility needs, please contact the St Clare Hospice team in advance so we can provide the necessary support to ensure your conference experience is comfortable and inclusive.
Have another question?
If you have any questions about the St Clare Hospice Palliative Care Conference, please contact us via email at education@stclarehospice.org.uk. Whether you need information about registration, the event schedule, accessibility or logistics, our team will be happy to help.