Published on: 12th August 2026
Last week, six members of our perioperative workforce attended the Association for Perioperative Practice (AfPP) Annual National Conference, joining colleagues from across the UK to share learning, network and explore developments in safer surgery.
Representing our anaesthetic, scrub and recovery teams were Marzooq, Ibok, Leon, Jetro, Virgil and Tokunbo.
This year's conference theme, "The Power of You: Putting Practitioners at the Heart of Safer Surgery," recognised the vital contribution that perioperative practitioners make every day in delivering safe, effective and compassionate patient care.
Across a range of keynote presentations, workshops and educational sessions, delegates explored innovation, leadership, wellbeing and professional development, all with a focus on improving outcomes for patients.
A key message from the conference was the importance of ensuring that every member of the theatre team feels valued, heard and empowered to speak up. This was reflected in AfPP's #notjusta campaign, which highlights that no one is "just" their role and that every member of the operating department plays a critical part in protecting patients and supporting safer surgery.
Delegates also learned more about the AfPP Behaviours Charter[, which promotes civility, respect, collaboration and professionalism within perioperative environments. The Charter reinforces the importance of creating a psychologically safe workplace, where staff feel able to raise concerns, contribute ideas and support one another, helping to build stronger teams and enhance patient safety.
Jesus Siozon, Perioperative Clinical Nurse Educator, said: “The conference was a great opportunity for our team to learn from colleagues across the UK, share experiences and bring back new ideas that will help us continue improving patient care and staff experience within our theatres”.
The group returned inspired with valuable insights and learning that will help support ongoing service improvement and best practice within our theatres, while strengthening our commitment to delivering safe, high-quality perioperative care.
Photo shows L to R: Marzooq, Ibok, Leon, Jetro, Virgil and Tokunbo