Building the ICU of Tomorrow: What Should We Be Doing Today?

ICU Futures 2026

Building the ICU of Tomorrow: What Should We Be Doing Today?

Exploring innovation, evidence and the future of critical care.

Join us for ICU Futures 2026 - A unique nurse-led innovation conference bringing together critical care practitioners, senior leaders and experts from across the public and independent sectors. Explore the latest evidence, share best practice, and discover innovative approaches that are shaping the future of intensive care.

Key Topics

· Innovating Care at the Bedside

· Humanising Intensive Care

· Transforming Care Through Evidence and Improvement

· Building Sustainable Critical Care for the Future

Agenda:

09:00 - 09:15

Welcome & Setting the Scene

· Welcome

· Reflections from ICU Futures 2025

· Why ICU Futures 2026

Session 1

Optimising Care at the Bedside (09:15 – 10:30)

09:15 - 09:40

Understanding Airway Clearance in Critical Illness (25 min)

09:40 – 10:00

Cough Assist in Critical Care: When, Why and How to Use It (20 min)

10:00 - 10:20

FEES in Critical Care and Why It Matters (20 min)

10:20 - 10:30

Questions & Discussion (10 min)

10:30 - 10:55

Morning Refreshment Break

Session 2

Humanising Intensive Care (10:55 – 12:00)

10:55 - 11:20

Humanising Intensive Care: Outcomes and Lessons from the UK's First HU-CI Certified Unit (25 min)

11:20 - 11:40

Implementing PADIS 2025 in ICU Practice Using the ABCDEF Bundle (20 min)

11:40 - 12:00

Silent ICU: Evidence, Innovation and Practical Approaches to Noise Reduction (20 min)

12:00 - 12:10

Questions & Discussion (10 min)

Session 3

Research That Can Change Practice (12:10 – 12:50)

12:10 - 12:40

The Studies Everyone Is Talking About Key critical care studies and takeaways from the past 12 months (30 min)

12:40 - 12:50

Questions & Discussion (10 min)

12:50 - 13:40

Lunch, Exhibition, Posters & Networking

Session 4

Building Better Care (13:40 – 14:20)

13:40 - 14:00

GPICS: From Standards to Practice (20 min)

14:00 - 14:15

Introducing Visual Management to Strengthen Alignment, Accountability and Improvement (15 min)

14:15 - 14:20

Questions & Discussion (5 min)

Session 5

Improving Recovery After Critical Illness (14:20 – 15:05)

14:20 - 14:40

Rehabilitation Matters: The Evidence and Actions That Improve Recovery in Critically Ill Patients (20 min)

14:40 - 15:00

Follow-up Clinics: What Good Looks Like (20 min)

15:00 - 15:05

Questions & Discussion (5 min)

15:05 - 15:15

Afternoon Break

Session 6

Workforce and Sustainability: Preparing for the Future (15:15 – 15:55)

15:15 - 15:35

Investing in Nurses: The Role and Impact of the Professional Nurse Advocate (20 min)

15:35 - 15:50

Shaping a Greener Future for Critical Care (15 min)

15:50 - 15:55

Questions & Discussion (5 min)

15:55: Closing Remarks

· Key reflections from the day

· ICU Futures 2030 takeaways

· Thank you and close

Please note:

Cost: £20 deposit, fully refunded upon attendance

CPD Certification: 7.5 hours total

Description supplied by the event organiser.