Martin House hosts its first children’s palliative care conference

Martin House Children’s Hospice welcomed more than 70 healthcare professionals to its first dedicated children’s palliative care conference, held at its newly redeveloped hospice in Boston Spa on 15 September. The Martin House Children’s Hospice Conference 2026: Inspiring Excellence brought delegates together to share specialist knowledge, explore practical approaches to care and hear from experts working with children and young people with life-shortening conditions.

Practice Educators Mandy Thorpe and Jen Knell opened the programme with an introduction to specialist palliative care at Martin House and in the community.

Chief Medical Officer and Consultant in Paediatric Palliative Medicine Dr Michelle Hills and Clinical Nurse Specialist Helen Storton then explored real-life case studies before leading an expert panel discussion.

The morning programme also included a talk by Dr Naomi Taylor and Sinead McBryde discussing research at Martin House and its current projects.

Charlotte Walker, Deputy Director of Clinical Services at Martin House, said: “Children’s palliative care is about helping babies, children and young people live as fully and comfortably as possible, while supporting their whole family.

“Children with life-shortening conditions may receive care in many different places, not only in a hospice. By sharing the expertise developed at Martin House, we can help more professionals feel confident supporting children and families wherever they encounter them.”

During the afternoon, delegates took part in practical workshops, including simulation training designed to build confidence around care after death and guidance on when and how to refer children and families to a children’s hospice.

Each year, Martin House supports more than 550 children and young people with life-shortening conditions, and their families, across West, North and East Yorkshire. Care is provided at the hospice, in hospitals and in families’ own homes. The hospice’s Education Centre provides children’s palliative care training to healthcare professionals, helping to share the specialist expertise developed at Martin House more widely.