Neonatal conference: Managing parents’ expectations – building positive relationships

Overview

Building on the success of this annual event, we are delighted to announce that we now have a full and exciting programme of speakers. This conference will focus on some of the challenges we face as professionals working in a neonatal unit, including, having difficult conversations, breaking bad news and how best to manage parents’ expectations.

Programme

Professor Neil Marlow and Dr Katie Gallagher
University College London
Parental involvement in neonatal critical care decision making

Laura de Rooy 
St Georges NHS Foundation Trust
Sharing the decision making process – a personal perspective

Alex Mancini
Chelsea & Westminster NHS Foundation Trust & The True Colours Trust
When do we begin the conversation about limiting life-sustaining treatment?

Sarah Barclay
Medical Mediation Foundation
Mediation: An approach to intractable disputes between parents and paediatricians

Emma and Matt Smith
Parent speakers: Surviving SCBU
Child Bereavement UK’s conferences always include the voice of bereaved families whose experience is important in helping professionals to understand and meet their needs. Bereaved parents Emma and Matt, will be talking about their experience of life in a busy neonatal unit.

Panel discussion:
Is anything possible? – managing parents’ expectations
Following the success of last year’s panel discussion, we will once again be chairing a discussion with a panel of experts in the world of neonatology. Each panel member will share their professional experience about difficult conversations, breaking bad news and how best to manage parents’ expectations. The audience will then be invited to join in the discussion.

Jocelyn Cornwell
The Point of Care Foundation
The impact of Schwartz Rounds within an NHS setting

Karen Lafferty
Child Bereavement UK
Setting up a bereavement support service within an NHS Trust

Please note, speakers and sessions for this conference are subject to change.

Who should attend?

Designed to be useful for those who work in the health sector, including; midwives, fetal medicine teams, neonatal and paediatric teams or those with a palliative care background with babies and children.

We encourage prospective participants to consider their own experience of loss and how it might affect them during training. Generally speaking, our training is not usually suited to anyone who has suffered a recent, significant personal loss or bereavement.

Fees

£95. Fees for participants include course materials, a CPD certificate of attendance, refreshments and light lunch.

This conference is supported by Abigail's Footsteps and Clare and Mark Fone in memory of their son Thomas Henry.

“A very interesting day that flowed well and was packed with information. Thank you for the opportunity to attend a truly inspiring day.” conference delegate