Healthcare professionals from across the UK are being invited to Martin House Children’s Hospice’s first conference dedicated to specialist paediatric palliative care. The Martin House Children’s Hospice Conference 2026: Inspiring Excellence will take place at the newly redeveloped hospice in Boston Spa on Tuesday 15 September, from 10am to 4pm.
Hosted by the new Martin House Education Centre, the conference will bring multidisciplinary professionals together for a day of clinical learning, collaboration and practical insight into supporting children and young people with life-shortening conditions.
Children requiring palliative care may be supported across a wide range of settings, including primary care, community services, hospitals and emergency care. However, many healthcare professionals receive limited formal education in paediatric palliative care during their undergraduate training or early careers.
The conference will share expertise from Martin House’s specialist clinical and education teams, helping delegates strengthen their knowledge, develop confidence in practice and challenge common misconceptions about children’s hospice care.
Dr Michelle Hills, Chief Medical Officer and Consultant in Paediatric Palliative Medicine at Martin House will lead a keynote session with the hospice’s Clinical Nurse Specialists entitled ‘Breaking down myths in specialist paediatric palliative care: real-life case studies’.
Practice Educators Jen Knell and Mandy Thorpe will also provide an introduction to specialist palliative care at Martin House and in the community.
Charlotte Walker, Deputy Director of Clinical Services at Martin House, said: “Children’s palliative care is about much more than end-of-life care. It is about helping children and young people live as fully and comfortably as possible, while supporting their whole family.”
“Children with life-shortening conditions receive care across many different healthcare settings, from hospitals and ambulances, to hospices and family homes. It is therefore vital that professionals feel confident identifying when specialist palliative care may help, discussing it with families and accessing the appropriate support.”
“This conference will create space for professionals to share expertise and explore the practical challenges they may encounter when caring for children and families.”
The programme will include expert keynote sessions, a panel discussion with Martin House’s multidisciplinary team, interactive workshops and opportunities for multidisciplinary networking.
Afternoon workshops will cover:
- Care after death: using simulation-based learning to develop skills and confidence
- Children’s hospice referrals: understanding when and how to refer
- A guided tour of Martin House: including its hydrotherapy pool, sensory spaces and new Education Centre
Delegates will also be able to attend a signing of Dr Hills’ new book, The Wrong Order of Things, during the networking lunch.
Jen Knell, Practice Educator at Martin House, said: “Healthcare professionals may encounter children with palliative care needs in almost any area of practice, but opportunities to explore these situations in a safe and supportive learning environment can be limited.
“The workshops will give delegates practical learning they can apply within their own clinical settings, whether that involves navigating referral pathways, developing confidence around care after death or understanding how children’s hospice services can work alongside existing teams.”
The conference is aimed at doctors, nurses, paramedics, allied health professionals and others involved in supporting children and young people with life-shortening conditions.
Tickets are available at an introductory price of £20, including lunch. Advance booking is required through Eventbrite at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/martin-house-childrens-hospice-conference-2026-inspiring-excellence-tickets-1994228719784?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true
For further information about Martin House Children’s Hospice and its Education Centre, visit: https://www.martinhouse.org.uk/
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Martin House has been providing family-led specialist palliative care and support for children and young people with life-shortening conditions since 1987 (life-shortening means the child or young person is not expected to live beyond young adulthood). We provide 24/7 care and support 365 days a year.
Every year we support over 550 children and young people, and their families, plus around 200 bereaved family members across West, North and East Yorkshire, at our hospice, in hospitals and in families’ own homes.
The hospice, based in Boston Spa, has nine bedrooms in our children’s wing, and six in our teenage wing, which cares for teenagers and young people. Our services include specialist planned short breaks, symptom management, emergency care, community care and end-of-life care. Our facilities include a hydrotherapy pool, wellbeing centre and an education centre, providing children’s palliative care training to healthcare professionals.
Bereavement support is offered to families who have used Martin House, as well as to families whose child had a life-shortening condition but did not have the opportunity to use the hospice, or following a sudden death.
Martin House’s medical team includes three consultants in paediatric palliative medicine and also hosts two places to train future consultants. We are one of only around seven training centres in the UK.
There is no cost to any of the families using our services. It costs £13 million a year to provide this care, the majority of which comes from voluntary donations and fundraising.
Registered Charity Number 517919
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