A national conference exploring how people can plan for their future healthcare needs is returning to the Norwich Research Park after a sell-out event in 2024.
The second Advance Care Planning Conference will take place at the John Innes Centre on Wednesday 7 May and will be live-streamed to centres across the UK and globally.
Locally, live streams have been arranged at Tapping House in west Norfolk, the James Paget University Hospital, the Priscilla Bacon Lodge and The Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH).
What is Advance Care Planning?
The Advance Care Planning Day is a not-for-profit campaign of action and awareness to encourage everyone to document, share and discuss their wishes around their future healthcare decisions.
The campaign aims to normalise conversations around what an individual’s feelings might be about their future treatment or end of life care, and who should speak for them should they be in a position where they are unable to communicate those decisions for themselves.
The NNUH and Norfolk and Norwich Hospitals Charity are key organisers of the day, with NHS Trusts, hospices and charities across the UK supporting the campaign.
Conference speakers
One of the key speakers at the conference will be Dr Christian R Ntizimira, Medical Director at Kibagabaga Hospital in Kigali City, Rwanda.
His talk will focus on ‘What Matters Most to You’, while other topics up for discussion on the day will include ‘Life, Death and Organ Donation’, ‘Advance Decisions to Refuse Treatment’ and ‘Lasting Power of Attorney’.
Other confirmed speakers include Clare Fuller, Advance Care Planning advocate and educator and coach at Speak for Me LPA, and best-selling author Evie King.
Making plans in advance
Dani Ayre, Palliative Care Matron at the NNUH and one of the members of the team organising the Advance Care Plan Day 2025, said: “The vast majority of adults in the UK have not created and shared a document outlining wishes for their future care.
“The aim of the awareness day is to help change this. Making plans in advance can be of great benefit whilst someone is healthy, when they are unwell, for care professionals and for the person’s friends and family members in the future.”
Find out more about Advance Care Planning Day and book tickets for the Norwich conference here.
