Compassion, Character and the Organisation of Acute NHS Care

Compassion is but one emotion or perhaps character or virtue that is thought to be crucial for excellent care and is politically and professionally to the fore in both policy and codes of conduct. However, by itself it is fragile especially under certain organisational conditions. Thus it is very important that students of healthcare and service users understand both the need for compassion and the difficulties of its expression especially in an acute NHS organisational setting. This project is innovative in that will bring together speakers from a variety of relevant disciplines as well as service users and professionals to explore these issues and provide some strategies for practice. This will be of benefit both to students of healthcare and to service users perhaps by setting realistic and researched based goals. The project supports the University's goals of providing high quality and distinctive experience and engagement for students, our practice partners and the public.

Register for this event at https://compassion-character.eventbrite.com 

Conference Schedule

10:00-10:15   Welcome and Introduction: “…but the ‘Good Samaritan’ only had one patient, no audits, no …” Roger Newham Senior Lecturer Nursing University of Birmingham

10:15-10:45   The NHS and a relationship of ‘customer service’ Anne Topping Professor of Nursing University of Birmingham

10:45-11:15   A covenantal relationship and today’s NHS Joshua Hordern Associate Professor of Christian Ethics, Oxford Healthcare Values Partnership, University of Oxford

11:15-11:30 Questions

11:30-12:00 Coffee

12:00-12:30 The NHS environment and expression of character: psychology meets moral philosophy Panos Paris Research Fellow Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues, University of Birmingham

12:30-12:40 Questions

12:40-13:30 Lunch

13:30-14:00 The NHS as a quasi-market and ethical character formation Andrew N Papanikitas Academic Clinical Lecturer in General Practice, University of Oxford

14:00-1430 Evaluation of projects for compassion in practise Alistair Hewison Senior Lecturer Research Lead for Nursing, University of Birmingham

14:30-14:45 Questions

14:45-1500 Close of conference

15:00-16:00 Coffee and workshop/discussion about the practical points from each speaker for maintaining and developing good character for good action in acute NHS care with anyone who wishes to stay Roger Newham

Because of the Alumni Impact Fund the event is free .