NES Annual Conference 2025

NES Annual Conference 2025

The NES Annual Conference which took place last month. In this article we will give you the first in a series of snapshots of this year’s theme - ‘Learning for Change: Tackling Health Inequity through Education and Workplace Learning’.

The conference offered a diverse programme across two days, bringing together voices from across the health and social care sector.

Setting the scene

The conference was opened by NES Chief Executive, Karen Reid who outlined some of the work that NES is doing to reduce health inequity through education and workplace learning across health and care.

Karen Reid, NES chief executive said:

“For NES, the ultimate goal of education and training is to improve health and care outcomes and reduce disparities. By investing in the development of a knowledgeable, skilled and compassionate workforce, we can create a ripple effect that transforms entire communities.”

The opening plenary also featured Professor Sir Michael Marmot discussing social justice and health equity, setting the tone for a conference focussed on real-world public health challenges.

The sessions

Key sessions included plenaries and parallel sessions focusing on public health inequalities, promoting inclusion and strengthening multi-professional collaboration, covering topics such as:

• innovative approaches to medical education, such as simulation-based training for international medical graduates
• rural and remote healthcare credentialing
• inclusive education toolkits.
• practical initiatives like realistic dentistry
• digital accessibility
• addressing bias in clinical settings

And much more, focussing on mental health, trauma-informed care, and integrating lived experiences into healthcare delivery.

Round-up

The closing plenary spotlighted place-based approaches to tackling health inequalities and reiterated the importance of a multi-professional approach.

Overall, the programme demonstrated NES’s commitment to equity, education, and collaboration across health and social care professions.

Watch this space

We will bring you more coverage of the NES annual conference in the next few months, including recordings of sessions and key takeaways from delegates.

More information

If you’d like to find out more about the NES Annual Conference 2025 contact us at events@nes.scot.nhs.uk

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