Infection Prevention & Resilience 2026
Infection prevention and control is a cornerstone of safe, high-quality healthcare—and a strategic priority across UK health systems. From hospitals and clinics to care homes and community services, effective IPC protects patients, staff, and the public while reducing avoidable harm and system strain.
As healthcare-associated infections continue to challenge service delivery, workforce resilience, and patient safety, infection control has become a central pillar of national health planning. The NHS 10-Year Plan places patient safety at the heart of its vision for a modern, resilient health system – Infection prevention policy is a foundational element of safe, effective care—especially in light of lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
As healthcare settings face evolving threats, workforce pressures, and rising expectations for safety, Infection prevention is no longer just a clinical protocol—it’s a system-wide imperative. This conference offers a platform to shape policy, share best practice, and drive system-wide improvements in infection control—ensuring safer, more resilient care for all.
As part of the UK Infection Prevention & Resilience Series, outcomes from this event will be actively shared across all four nations—ensuring that Wales, Scotland, England, and Northern Ireland benefit from each other’s insights, innovations, and best practices.
Interested in the Event?
Event Schedule.
08.00 – 09.30 – Breakfast, registration and networking
09.30 – 09.40 – Chair’s welcome
Dr Alexander Rhys, Chief Executive Officer, Infection Prevention Society (Invited)
09.40 – 09.55 – Keynote address – The National Infection Strategy
Professor Matt Inada-Kim, National clinical director for infection and antimicrobial resistance, NHS England (Invited)
09.55 – 10.10 – Preventing Surgical Site Infections in the NHS
Pauline Harrington, National SSI Surveillance Manager, UK Health Security Agency (Invited)
10.10 – 10:25 – Headline Sponsor
10:25 – 10.40 – Q&A Panel Debate
10.40 – 11.20 – Refreshments and Networking
11:20 – 11.35 – Regulation & Accountability in IPC
Joyce Frederick, Director of Policy and Strategy, Care Quality Commission (Invited)
11.35 – 11.50 – Learning from Harm: What Claims Data Tells Us About IPC Failures
Denise Townsend, Head of Safety & Learning, NHS Resolution (Invited)
11.50 – 12.05 – Regulatory Reform for IPC Innovation
Louise Knowles, Deputy Director – Innovation Accelerator and Regulatory Science, MHRA (Invited)
12:05 – 12.20 – Q&A panel Debate
12.20 – 12.30 – Movement Break
12.30 – 12.50 – Case Study 1 : Use of Digital /AI for enhanced IPC
12.50 – 13.10 – Case Study 2: Clostridioides difficile: Surveillance & Stewardship
13.10 – 13.30 – Case Study 3: Antimicrobial Resistance: Global Threat, Local Action
13:30 – 14:30 – Lunch in the Network Surgery
14.30 – 14.50 – Case Study 4: Integrated Surveillance Systems: Data to Action
14.50 – 15.10 – Case Study 5: Wound Care & Infection Prevention
15.10 – 15:40 Movement Break & Refreshments
15.45 – 16.00 – Infectious Diseases and Microbiology
Dr Rajeka Lazarus, President, British Infection Association (BIA) (Invited)
16.00 – 16.15 – Understanding the underlying causes of AMR and HCAI
Professor Alison Holmes, Director – Health Protection Research Unit in HAIs and AMR, NIHR (Invited)
16.15 – TBC
16:30 – 16.45 – Q&A panel Debate
16:55 – 16.50 – Conference Close
