{"id":2375,"date":"2026-04-24T07:00:23","date_gmt":"2026-04-24T07:00:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/spcare\/?p=2375"},"modified":"2026-04-22T11:22:47","modified_gmt":"2026-04-22T11:22:47","slug":"clinical-leadership-for-modern-palliative-care-symposium-at-palliative-care-congress-brighton-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/spcare\/2026\/04\/24\/clinical-leadership-for-modern-palliative-care-symposium-at-palliative-care-congress-brighton-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Clinical leadership for modern palliative care: Symposium at Palliative Care Congress, Brighton 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

Authors<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Dr Sarah Mitchell<\/strong>, Clinical Associate Professor of Palliative Care, University of Leeds<\/span><\/em>
\nDr Suzanne Kite<\/strong>, President, Association for Palliative Medicine, The Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust<\/span><\/em>
\nDr Debbie Talbot<\/strong>, Consultant in Palliative Medicine and NHSE Midlands Regional Clinical lead for PC&EOLC, University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS FT and NHSE Midlands<\/span><\/em>
\nCharlotte Rock<\/strong>, Chief Nurse, St Gemma’s Hospice, Leeds<\/span><\/em>
\nDr Mary Miller<\/strong>, Clinical Lead National Audit of Care at the End of Life (NACEL), Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Dr Sarah Mitchell, National Clinical Director for Palliative Care and End-of-Life Care (PC&EOLC) at NHS England. Simon Callaghan Event Photography<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

From L-R: Charlotte Rock; Debbie Talbot; Sarah Mitchell; Mary Miller; Suzanne Kite (Personal photo).<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Why hold the session?<\/b><\/p>\n

There is good evidence that high quality clinical leadership is essential to driving up standards for patient care. This is essential to achieve high quality palliative care for all who need it, whoever and wherever they are, and as early as possible. The fast changing landscape of healthcare and ever increasing clinical demands can compromise leadership capacity, there are no defined career pathways to clinical leadership, and there is little focus on training or skills development for clinical leadership roles. This Palliative Care Congress symposium was therefore designed to consider creative opportunities to develop clinical leadership in palliative care.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Nearly 150 people attended the symposium, led by Dr Sarah Mitchell, National Clinical Director for Palliative Care and End-of-Life Care (PC&EOLC) at NHS England. The panel consisted of Dr Mary Miller, Clinical Lead for the National Audit for Care at the End of Life, Dr Debbie Talbot, Regional Clinical Lead for PC&EOLC in the Midlands, NHS England, Charlotte Rock, Chief Nurse at St Gemma\u2019s Hospice, Leeds and Dr Suzanne Kite, President of the Association for Palliative Medicine (APM). Each presented aspects of their leadership journey in palliative care, showcasing examples of clinical leadership in action.<\/span><\/p>\n

The symposium provided time and space for delegates to reflect on their personal leadership journeys, using a co-coaching approach to guide discussion and feedback, across the following areas:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n