Another fabulous conference! And call for abstracts for 2025!

4th July 2024

Yesterday, we had an amazing day at the iHV Evidence-based Practice Conference 2024: A Healthier Future. We had a packed conference hall, with delegates and speakers joining from all UK nations, both in-person in Manchester plus many more online – there was an incredible buzz in the room! Our conference showcased the very best of health visiting practice and research. From start to finish, the event was packed with examples of the difference that health visiting can make, led by practitioners and with families at the heart of our work.

We would like to extend a huge heartfelt thank you to our delegates, our inspiring speakers – including our parent speakers who are experts by experience –  our wonderful exhibitors and our generous sponsor – the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

Dr Helen Campbell, Lead Scientist in the Immunisation Division at the UKHSA, opened our conference with the breakfast sponsor session by delivering a very important national update on pertussis. She shared data on the worrying rise of pertussis cases in infants in 2024 and called for health visitors to promote the uptake of the pertussis vaccine for pregnant women.

With two plenary keynote sessions, eight concurrent sessions, plus two simultaneous oral breakout sessions, there was plenty for delegates to learn and enjoy. There were so many highlights from the day, here are just a few examples (there are too many to mention):

• Keynote session one focused on tackling inequalities in both maternal mortality and racially-driven inequalities for babies and children. We were delighted to be joined by expert speakers from MBRRACE (Mothers and Babies: Reducing Risk through Audit and Confidential Enquiries) and the NHS RHO (Race Health Observatory). This session also included a very powerful ‘armchair’ conversation with Lauren Clarke and Matt Wynter who are parents and experts by experience – they described their personal experiences of having serious neonatal jaundice missed due to poor recognition of the condition in babies with darker skin colour.
• Keynote session two explored the evidence and research to reduce health inequalities. Professor Sally Kendall and Dr Erica Gadsby focused on health visiting research during the COVID-19 pandemic and Professor Helen Bedford shared the national data and research on vaccinations focusing on the vital role that health visitors play in improving vaccination uptake.
• Alison Morton, iHV CEO, delivered the final keynote presentation on ‘Radical health visiting – driving change’ and shared 3 key messages – “Get real, get radical and get on!”
• Chris Whitman and Hannah Potter, both from Leeds Community Healthcare, won best poster presentation for the oral breakout sessions following their successful abstract submissions. A huge congratulations once again from #TeamiHV!

Our conference programme brought together local, national, and international experts and speakers who focused on strengthening health visiting practice. We explored together how we can build on the present to help shape the future of health visiting and tackle inequalities and improve outcomes for babies, children and families. The day was a huge success, and we hope you enjoyed it as much as we did! Some early conference feedback we have received so far includes:

“Really effective speakers – enjoyed the sessions and learned so much”

“Just totally absorbing”

“Really good to hear what’s happening around the country”

“Really good hearing what a diverse range of research that is going on in health visiting and public health”

“Go out there and be brave”

“Feel totally motivated and fired up. Exactly what was needed”

“It was just an excellent experience”

Call for abstracts 2025

If you would like to be part of our EBP conference next year on 8 May 2025 at King’s House Conference Centre in Manchester, our call for abstracts for iHV EBP Conference 2025: ‘Healthier Beginnings’ is now open! To find out more, click here.

We can’t wait to see you next year!