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“Delirium is the most common complication amongst hospitalised people over 65 years and a quarter of older adults in hospital in England have delirium during admission6,7, up to 76%8 of whom will die.”
Delirium Matters: priorities and opportunities for health and social care policy in England 2025
“It is associated with other poor outcomes including increased risk of falls and longer hospital stays. Delirium can be profoundly upsetting and frightening for patients, carers and staff…Delirium has deep impacts on the health and social care system including unplanned transfers of patients to intensive care, discharge delays and increased 30-day readmission rates.”
(NIHR James Lind Alliance Delirium (UK) PSP protocol, published Nov 2025
“Delirium is a serious, but modifiable patient safety issue…We estimate that delirium cost the NHS in England a total of £10.8 billion in 2022, but up to a third of cases are preventable. We could save £1.8-2.8 billion per year by doing so. Better delirium recognition and care would significantly benefit patients, the NHS and social care systems.”
Delirium Matters: priorities and opportunities for health and social care policy in England 2025
“Delirium can be prevented and treated easily if identified early. ”
NHS England
This conference focuses on the prevention, assessment and management of people with delirium. Through national updates and practical case studies the conference will equip you to spread the message that delirium is preventable, and develop your skills in the recognition, assessment and management of delirium. Case studies and in depth sessions will focusing on screening and assessment, managing violent or aggressive behaviour in patients experiencing delirium, effective prescribing and management and the importance of effective prevention.
The conference will also consider the impact of the 2025 10 year health plan for England on delirium services, the impact of the ‘Delirium Matters: priorities and opportunities for health and social care policy in England’ and reflect on recent evidence updates including the update to the NICE Clinical Guideline on Delirium: prevention, diagnosis and management, and the 2025 guidance on delirium and the critically ill patient which has recently been released by the Intensive Care Society.
“By implementing these best practices, we can reduce the impact of delirium on patients, families and staff, ultimately enhancing the quality of care and supporting families during a challenging time. ”
Professor Shondipon Laha President, Intensive Care Society February 2025
This conference will enable you to:
Network with colleagues who are working to improve practice in the prevention, recognition, assessment and management of people with delirium
Learn from outstanding practice in prevention delirium
Reflect on lived experience
Improve delirium management and effective prescribing
Reflect on national developments and recent evidence updates
Improve patient experience and support people with delirium
Develop the role of delirium champions
Understand latest evidence on the causes of delirium
The use of non pharmacological and pharmacological approaches: understanding the thresholds
Implement principles of assessment for those at risk of delirium and those presenting with symptoms
Reflect on the update to NICE guidelines on Delirium
Develop your skills in Early Assessment of Delirium
Explore the evidence and links between delirium and pain
Reflect on the use of a virtual delirium ward for patients with frailty
Understand how you can reduce confusion and delirium following surgery
Identify key strategies for improving psychological care of critical care patients with ICU associated delirium
Understand the role of a delirium outreach service in supporting patients at home with unresolved delirium
Reflect on the management of people in distress who are experiencing delirium
Learn from best practice in managing delirium at the end of life, and improving communication with patients and carers
Improve practice in the recognition and management of delirium in hospitals, the community and in care homes
Self assess and reflect on your own practice
Supports CPD professional development and acts as revalidation evidence. This course provides 5 Hrs training for CPD subject to peer group approval for revalidation purposes
