HCA 2012 – "Accept the challenge, feed the future"

The HCA Annual National Conference and Exhibition is the premier annual event for healthcare catering managers, hotel services and facilities professionals and industry suppliers. The focus for the 2012 Conference will be on innovation, inspiration and recovery. The programme of speakers will aim to challenge delegates to work together smarter and to help create a better healthcare system that is modern, dynamic and can react to a changing environment. Opening the Conference on Thursday 26 April will be ex-health minister and politician, Edwina Currie who will give a frank and topical view on current healthcare issues. Other speakers include Sue Hawkins, care catering services manager, directorate for adult and community services, Dorset County Council who has worked with CQC on the development of the new Outcome 5 criteria; Graham Jacobs, section head – workforce and facilities, NHS Information Centre and Maxine Cartz, registered dietitian, British Dietetic Association (BDA). Also on the conference programme on Thursday will be a talk by Dr Jocelyn Cornwall from The King's Fund on the Point of Care Programme which aims to improve the experiences of staff and patients in acute hospitals. Love British Food 2012 Organiser, Alexia Robinson will be outlining this year's plans to showcase the best of British food during the Olympics. Closing the first day will be an inspiring motivational session by Olympic Rowing Silver Medallist, Alison Mowbray. The conference line up for Friday will see Professor Heather Hartwell, associate professor of health and social care, Bournemouth University start the day with a focus on how caterers can meet the challenges set by the NHS Health and Wellbeing Improvement Framework. This focuses on workplace food, menu engineering and obesity within health professionals. Janice Gillan, national chairman, Hospital Caterers Association, commented: "We are working through some of the most turbulent times ever to face the NHS, against the backdrop of uncertainty about the direction in which the Government is going over its planned reforms. "The challenge to us all, regardless of outcomes, is to rise above the maelstrom and to continue to provide the best possible patient feeding service we can within the constraints we face, without compromising on quality. By no means an easy task. "However, this year's Conference team has worked hard to create a programme which will inspire, inform and motivate colleagues to both accept and rise to the challenge that lies ahead in all areas of the NHS."