Edinburgh Regional Conference
About this Event
The AfPP Regional Conference in Edinburgh on Saturday 14 November 2026 brings high-quality, accessible education directly to perioperative teams, offering evidence-based sessions aligned with national standards, specialist exhibitors, and opportunities to build connections with peers. Delegates can earn 5.5 CPD hours.
In today’s healthcare landscape, the demands placed on perioperative teams are greater than ever - whether it’s adopting innovative surgical technologies, championing patient safety, or fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, your role is critical to delivering optimal outcomes for patients.
This conference is designed to empower you with the knowledge, skills, and inspiration to continue excelling in your practice.
Join us to advance your practice, earn CPD, and build lasting connections.
EXHIBITORS
The NHS Scotland Academy is a partnership between NHS Golden Jubilee and Public Services Delivery Scotland to offer accelerated training for a wide range of health and social care roles and professions. Working with NHS Boards, schools, colleges, universities and industry partners, the NHS Scotland Academy provides education and training that will address workforce needs identified through key partners to support the sustainable growth in NHS Scotland’s clinical and non-clinical activity.
Medline Industries Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Medline Industries, LP, which is the largest provider of medical-surgical products and supply chain solutions serving all points of care. Through its broad product portfolio, resilient supply chain and leading clinical solutions, Medline helps healthcare providers improve their clinical, financial and operational outcomes. Headquartered in Northfield, Illinois, the company employs more than 43,000 people worldwide and operates in more than 100 countries and territories. To learn more about how Medline helps improve healthcare delivery and outcomes in Europe, visit www.medline.eu
Surgical Holdings is a UK-based manufacturer and specialist repair provider of high-quality reusable surgical instruments, employing over 60 people in Southend-on-Sea. With decades of medical device expertise and a strong heritage in precision craftsmanship, the company supports NHS and private healthcare providers with new instrumentation, refurbishment services, and technical compliance knowledge. Now part of the Stille AB group, Surgical Holdings combines British manufacturing capability with premium European instrument brands to deliver clinically reliable and sustainable solutions. Operating to ISO 13485 standards and aligned with evolving MDR requirements, the business is committed to quality, traceability, and circular-economy principles within the surgical supply chain.
B. Braun is one of the world's leading providers of medical solutions, incorporating the company’s depth of expertise and understanding of users' needs.
As a true partner, B. Braun Sterile Goods Management helps hospitals deliver efficient, and reliable care by providing high-quality general instruments, sterile container systems, and expert services that help ensure consistent availability, safety and integrity of surgical instrument sets.
Our solutions help optimise workflow, extend the lifetime value of instruments and reduce operational risk and downtime—helping theatres focus on what matters most: patient outcomes.
Please visit Surgical Instruments & Sterile Container Systems - B. Braun for further information.
Care Surgical is a global company focused on providing safe and comfortable patient positioning products for a variety of surgical procedures. Offering a comprehensive range of disposable and reusable pads, covers and cushions, our products are compatible with most spine and standard operating table systems on the market.
We pride ourselves on being responsive to our customers’ needs and welcome new concepts to complement our product range. Our world class customer service and robust quality management systems have earned us ISO 13485 certification.
Our commitment to excellence is why so many customers choose Care Surgical for their patient positioning needs.
Medical Reservists have a variable part-time commitment which is manageable alongside their civilian career. Giving up spare time in support of the Armed Forces also brings transferable skills and knowledge back to their civilian role.
Reservists receive training in communication, leadership and management and have access to many professional courses.
Mölnlycke Health Care is a world-leading MedTech company that specialises in innovative solutions for wound care and surgical procedures. Mölnlycke products and solutions are used daily by hospitals, health care providers and patients in over 100 countries around the world. Our purpose is to revolutionise care for people and planet. We drive change that improves the health and wellbeing of patients and those who care for them–while reducing the environmental footprint of healthcare.
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Disclaimer: please note that all timings, topics, sessions and speakers are subject to change. We reserve the right at any point in time to alter the aforementioned.
Agenda
🕑: 08:30 AM - 09:10 AM
Registration, Tea/Coffee and Exhibition Viewing
🕑: 09:10 AM - 09:20 AM
Welcome and Introduction
Host: Event Chair
🕑: 09:20 AM - 10:10 AM
S1: Sustainable Practice:Delivering High Quality Care with Lower Carbon Impact
Host: Ryan McKay
Info: Introducing perioperative teams to the work of the Green Health Systems (GHS) team and explores how theatres can meaningfully contribute to NHS Scotland’s climate commitments. Speakers will present practical, evidence based actions that reduce carbon emissions, improve patient and staff experience, and support cost effective care. LO: 1.Understand how carbon reductions are measured and reported across departments such as theatres, renal, and endoscopy
2.Identify perioperative actions that reduce carbon emissions and how to share best practice and how these contribute to sustainability goals
3. Provide examples of successful initiatives including the lean tray project
🕑: 10:10 AM - 10:30 AM
Speed Education Session - Mölnlycke Health Care
🕑: 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Tea/Coffee, Networking and Exhibition Viewing
🕑: 11:00 AM - 11:45 AM
S2:Developing Scotland’s Perioperative Workforce:Challenges & Building Careers
Host: Helen Henderson: Principal Educator NHS Scotland Acad
Info: Developing Scotland’s Perioperative Workforce: Addressing Challenges and Building Careers with NHS Scotland Academy // This session explores the current challenges facing Scotland’s perioperative workforce and examines how the NHS Scotland Academy is supporting sustainable solutions. Participants will gain insight into career pathways and role development designed to strengthen recruitment, retention, and progression. // Learning Objectives: 1. Identify key challenges facing Scotland’s perioperative workforce
2. Understand how these challenges influence service delivery and workforce sustainability
3. Explore NHS Scotland Academy career pathways and role development within the perioperative workforce to support effective workforce planning and progression
🕑: 11:45 AM - 12:30 PM
S3: Organ Donation & Transplantation: Pathways, Teamwork & Simulation Learning
Host: Dr Laura Barry
Info: Organ donation and transplantation can feel like a highly specialist area, but there are important lessons and practical insights for every perioperative professional. This session will provide an accessible overview of organ donation and transplantation pathways, with a focus on the role of teamwork, communication, dignity, and coordinated care across services. Drawing on experience from Scottish simulation training, the session will explore how realistic scenarios can help teams prepare for complex, sensitive situations, strengthen human factors awareness, and build confidence in practice. Whether delegates are new to this area or already have experience, they will leave with a clearer understanding of the pathway and the practical principles that support safe, compassionate perioperative care.
🕑: 12:30 PM - 01:30 PM
Lunch, Networking and Exhibition Viewing
🕑: 01:30 PM - 02:00 PM
Session 4: Beyond the Anaesthetic: Rethinking Recovery
Info: This session challenges perioperative professionals to look beyond the immediate post-anaesthetic phase and view recovery as a continuous, multidisciplinary process that begins before surgery and extends beyond theatre. It will explore how recovery can be optimised through effective communication, shared decision-making, and a stronger understanding of patient needs across the perioperative pathway.
Focusing on real-world practice, we will examine key factors influencing recovery outcomes, human factors, team dynamics, patient safety, and early recognition of deterioration. Delegates will gain practical insight into how small, achievable changes can improve patient experience, safety, and overall recovery.
Relevant to the whole perioperative team, the session encourages reflection on current practice and offers actionable ideas to strengthen collaboration, enhance recovery pathways, and deliver high-quality, patient-centred care.
🕑: 02:00 PM - 02:50 PM
Session 5: Advances in Burn Care, Reconstruction, and Laser Therapy
Host: Mr Christopher J. Lewis
Info: This session provides a perspective on contemporary advances in burn care, reconstructive strategies, and laser therapy. Drawing on practical experience across acute burn management, complex wound optimisation, scar modulation, and functional/aesthetic reconstruction, it will translate evolving evidence into clinically applicable approaches. Attendees will gain insights into decision-making from initial resuscitation and excision through to staged reconstruction, rehabilitation, and long-term scar management. The session will also address indications, patient selection, outcomes, and pitfalls in laser treatment for hypertrophic scars and pigmentary/vascular sequelae, with an emphasis on multidisciplinary pathways. 1.Understand principles of major burn management, including assessment, resuscitation, early surgery and new technologies. 2.Describe reconstructive strategies for complex burns and staged reconstruction. 3.Recognise how paediatric burn care differs from adult management.
🕑: 02:50 PM - 03:10 PM
Tea/Coffee, Short Refreshment Break
🕑: 03:10 PM - 03:55 PM
Session 6: Beyond the Checklist: Cultivating Psychological Safety in Theatres
Host: Professor Rosalind Searle
Info: Psychological safety is essential to safe perioperative practice, effective teamwork and positive patient outcomes. This session will explore how culture, communication and leadership shape the theatre environment, and why creating a space where people feel able to speak up matters far beyond compliance alone. Delegates will reflect on the human factors that influence performance, behaviour and wellbeing, and will gain practical insight into how psychological safety can be strengthened across teams to support safer, kinder and more effective perioperative care.
🕑: 03:55 PM - 04:00 PM
Re-cap & Reviewing, Closing Remarks, Questions and Evaluations
Host: Event Chair
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
GBP 26.84 to GBP 58.46
