Second International Conference on Compassionate Care

This participative event was held from 23 - 24 June 2011 at Edinburgh Napier University’s new Sighthill Campus, Edinburgh, Scotland.
 
It attracted 265 delegates over two days (practitioners, managers, educationalists and researchers and those who have a role in shaping the future of care within health and social care professions). Conference delegates were truly international, attending from across the United Kingdom, Ireland, South Africa, Sweden, Holland and the United States of America.

View photos from this event.

Conference Aims

• Create a forum that stimulates dialogue, learning and development of compassionate caring in the complex multidisciplinary world of health and social care.
• Learn about novel approaches to caring
• Provide a networking opportunity for practitioners, educationalists, policy makers and researchers from across the globe
• Celebrate innovations in compassionate care practice, education and research
• Enable learning and stimulate development of research and policy in this area

The culture of the conference valued collaboration, appreciation, critical supported discussion and novel ways of sharing knowledge that actively engages participants. We would encourage abstract submissions in line with these values.

Keynote speakers

The following speakers provided a keynote presentation. Click on the speakers' names to view the presentations.  
 
 Sue Davies, Associate Professor of Nursing, Winona State University, USA ( view handout)
 Lillemor Lindwall, Associate Professor of Nursing, Karlstad University, Sweden
 Jason Leitch, National Clinical Lead for Quality, The Scottish Government
 Claire Forbes, Director of Communications, Office of the Parliamentary & Health Service Ombudsman, London

Call for abstracts

Abstracts were invited that shared work internationally under the following broad themes:

1. Determining need for compassionate caring
2. Innovations in practice and education
3. Developing compassionate caring cultures
4. Methods, measurement and outcomes
5. Being a leader in the development of compassionate caring
6. Strategic, cultural and political dimensions of compassionate care

Abstracts were invited for symposiums, workshops, poster presentations and round table discussions. For a full list of the conference abstracts please see the conference handbook.

Conference programme

Each conference day included keynote presentations from an International expert in a subject related to compassionate caring. Throughout the conference there were opportunities to participate in workshops, attend symposiums, round table discussions and poster presentations. There was also opportunity to visit exhibits related to compassionate care.

 View the programme.

Tree of Learning

During the conference we asked delegates to consider their conference experience and their learning. Leaf shaped post it notes were provided and delegates were asked to identify their learning by writing this on the post it and hanging this on the tree.

 Tree of Learning 1
 Tree of Learning 2

Wall of Intent

During the conference we also asked delegates to make a commitment to what they would do as individuals to enhance compassionate caring.  Each delegate was given a ‘paper brick’ to contribute to building a wall of intent. Delegates were encouraged to write on the brick what their commitment would be and then place this on the wall.

 Wall of Intent

Gala event

On the evening of Thursday 23 June 2011 at 7.30pm the conference hosted a Gala Event at Edinburgh’s premiere contemporary event venue, the Edinburgh Corn Exchange. The evening commenced with a drinks reception, then a gala meal. Entertainment and dancing with a particularly Scottish flavour brought the evening to a close.

Gallery

During the conference we were delighted to have photographer Kurien Koshy Yohannan present with us. The images can be seen below.