8 - 9 August 2025
2025 Headline Sponsor:
AfPP Annual National Conference 2025 Agenda
The AfPP Annual National Conference 2025 features a packed educational programme aimed at enhancing patient and practitioner safety in operating theatres. Alongside that, there will be protected exhibition time and networking opportunities across the event.
The programme features carefully selected speakers and activities that are guaranteed to deliver high-level education, support your career development, and leave you inspired. Expect lectures with live Q&A sessions, panel discussions and more!
This year’s conference features five key themes, offering a mix of innovation, hands-on learning, and wellbeing support:
- The Future of Theatres – Insights into emerging technologies, policies, and workforce sustainability.
- Skills Lab – Practical workshops to refine essential perioperative techniques.
- Wellbeing Studio – Sessions on mental health, resilience, and self-care.
- Clinical Education – Updates on best practices, patient safety, and new research.
- VR/Simulation Workshops – Immersive simulations for real-world surgical decision-making.
The agenda at a glance can be viewed below. For more detail on the individual sessions, click here for the session overviews.
Friday 8 August
Molnlycke Theatre
– The Future of Theatres –
Ensemble Room
– Skills Lab –
Helen Martin Studio
– Wellbeing Studio –
Wood Scawen Room
– Clinical Education –
Studio Room
– VR/Simulation Workshops –
8:30 – 9:30
Registration / Networking / Exhibition
9:30 – 9:40
Welcome & Opening Speeches
9:40 – 10:40
State of Play: Leadership For The Future We Need – Ed Gillespie, Futurenaut
10:40 – 11:10
Refreshments / Networking / Exhibition
11.10 – 12:00
Sustainable Surgery: The Intercollegiate Green Theatre Checklist
Andy Stevenson, Co-Chair Sustainability in Surgery, RCS Eng
Intraosseous Vascular Access
– Practical Workshop –
Workplace Wellness with Nutrition
LiveWell
Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training
Paula McGowan
(Virtual)
Immersive Simulation – Enhancing Perioperative Performance
12.10 – 13:00
The Impact of Incivility in the Perioperative Environment: A Call to Action
Lisa Tierney, Maxine Page, Oliver Tierney, Scarlett McNallly, Will Windsor
Intraosseous Vascular Access
– Practical Workshop –
Turning Adversity into a Positive
Carol Jordan
Accreditation: A quality improvement initiative
Matthew Ashman, National Lead – Theatre and Recovery Services, Circle Health Group
– Practical Workshop –
13:00 – 14:00
Lunch / Networking / Exhibition
14.00 – 14:50
Perioperative Futures: Evolving Roles, Career Progression, and Workforce Innovation
Sarah Massay, Anaesthesia Associate
Craig Griffiths, Senior Lecturer
Lisa Tierney, Head of Nursing
Ultrasound Guided
IV Access
– Practical Workshop –
The 5-Minute Reset: Emotional Freedom Techniques (Tapping) for Stress and Resilience in Fast-Paced Healthcare Environments
Tamara and Peter Donn: The EFT Training Centre
– Practical Workshop –
Causative Factors Leading into Perioperative Never Events
Paul Wheeler, Senior Lecturer
Immersive Simulation – Enhancing Perioperative Performance
15.00 – 15:50
Session information
coming soon
Ultrasound Guided
IV Access
– Practical Workshop –
Session information
coming soon
The Education Café: A novel model to provide Specialist Perioperative CPD
Jasper Ballecer, Senior Nurse for Theatres Education, University College London
Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
– Practical Workshop –
15:50 – 16:10
Refreshments / Networking / Exhibition
16:10 – 17:10
Perioperative International Recruitment Panel
Mike Donnellon – CODP, Pete Chell – NHS, Christine Elliot – HCPC, Maricar Gaspar – NHS, Chair – Oliver Tierney
17:10 – 17:15
Close and recap
Friday Agenda
Saturday 9 August
Molnlycke Theatre
– The Future of Theatres –
Ensemble Room
– Skills Lab –
Helen Martin Studio
– Wellbeing Studio –
Wood Scawen Room
– Clinical Education –
Studio Room
– VR/Simulation Workshops –
6:15 – 7:00
Wellbeing Morning
8:00 – 8:30
Registration / Nextworking / Exhibition
8:30 – 8:40
Welcome & Day 2 Opening
8:40 – 9:30
Beth’s Story: The Importance of Speaking Up and Challenging in Teams
Clare Bowen, Trustee, Clinical Human Factor Group
9:30 – 10:20
Daisy Ayris Lecture: Fixing Theatre Culture and Behaviours
Scarlett McNally, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, East Sussex & Deputy Director, Centre for Perioperative Care
10:20 – 10:50
Refreshments / Networking / Exhibition
10.50 – 11:40
Sustainability in Practice – Greener Theatres
Belinda Reid, Regional Lead, AfPP & Rebecca Griffiths, Net zero and sustainability lead, NHS England
Skin Prep & Surgical Fires
– Practical Workshop –
Preventing Burnout and Promoting Wellbeing
Danielle Grant, Health and Wellbeing Trainer, Compass Community
Practical Steps To Strengthen Patient Safety
Catherine Okonkwo, CQC Management Consultant, COMI Health Ltd
Learning Surgical Safety with the Virtual Operating Theatre: The NatSSIPs 2
– Workshop –
11.50 – 12:40
The Evolution of Robotic Surgery: Past, Present and Future
Linda Taylor, Robotic Lead Spire Healthcare Edinburgh
Skin Prep & Surgical Fires
– Practical Workshop –
Let’s Start a Conversation…
Oliver Tierney, AfPP President
NatSSIPs: Practical Approaches to Implementing National Safety Standards for Invasive Procedures
Scarlett McNally, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, East Sussex & Deputy Director, Centre for Perioperative Care
Learning Surgical Safety with the Virtual Operating Theatre: The NatSSIPs 2
– Workshop –
12:40 – 13:45
Refreshments / Networking / Exhibition
13.45 – 14:45
Theatres of the Future: AI in Perioperative Care
Kevin Cairns, Lecturer in Clinical Skills and Simulation, Liverpool John Moores University
Leadership: from Aspiring to Inspiring
– Workshop –
Maxine Page, Theatre Matron, Princess Alexandra Hospital & Lisa Tierney, Independent Healthcare Consultant and Specialist Advisor, CQC
Schwartz Rounds
Jane Murdoch
International Voices: Shaping NHS Recruitment and Retention
Mayflor Bernal, Patient Safety Lead Nurse, South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust
Learning Surgical Safety with the Virtual Operating Theatre: The NatSSIPs 2
– Workshop –
14:35 – 14:50
Refreshments / Networking
14:50 – 15:50
Cadence: the Key to High Performance
Leanne Spencer, Wellbeing Speaker and Burnout Prevention Expert
15:50 – 16:20
Conference Close
Saturday Agenda
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