• October 10th & 11th
    ​Hope Church, Winchester
    We're looking forward to welcoming you back to Hope Church in Winchester for PIER2023. We have another varied and exciting programme for all members of the paediatric MDT covering tissue viability, benign haematology, organ donation processes, acute neurology updates and much more. 
    Travel Information
    ​    Hope Church is easy walking distance from Winchester Train Station.

    There is a small public car park adjacent to the Church and a number of others including the North Walls, Tower Street and River Park all within a short walk.

    The Chesil Street multi-story car park is slightly further, but still within a 10-12 minute walk. The cheapest option is the park and ride - details of which can be found here www.winchester.gov.uk/parking/parking-and-car-parks

    ​For anyone cycling, bike racks are available close by.
  • Day 1
    0900 - 0915

    Welcome
    Here we go...
    ​0915 - 1030

    From Injury to Rehabilitation: A Patient Journey
    ​    Andrea Whitney, Shona Mackie and the Southampton Neurorehabilitation Team
    ​
    ​    Read more...
    Join Andrea Whitney, Paediatric Neurologist and the Neurorehabilitation team in Southampton to hear about the amazing story of a patient through their journey from injury to rehabilitation. 
    1030 - 1045

    A New Digital APProach for Wessex Paediatrics
    Eolas Medical
    ​
    ​    Read more...
    We are really excited to officially launch the PIER app, which brings together local paediatric department information, all the PIER guidelines, and national guidelines and parent information sheets... all from one unified search field. In this session, Eolas Medical, the team behind the app, demonstrate some of the exciting features and show how you will use it every day. 

    ​Coffee
    1115 - 1200

    The Healthy Start Initiative 
    ​    Christina Vogel & Millie Barrett

    ​​    Read more...
    Identifying solutions to improve uptake of the NHS Healthy Start Scheme using novel qualitative research techniques

    In this session, Professor Christina Vogel and lead researcher, Millie Barrett, will explain the background to, and the basics of, the NHS Healthy Start Scheme which aims to improve the dietary quality of pregnant women and young children in households on very low incomes. The session will cover the work being led by Professor Vogel to evaluate the scheme nationally, using novel qualitative research techniques in three case study areas: Southampton, London Borough of Redbridge and Greater Manchester. 

    ​You will hear about the ways in which the research team has reached out to communities who do not often engage in research, and they will share learnings about the benefits of this type of research.

    ​The session will also cover some of the key findings about the NHS Healthy Start Scheme and the work being done in the case study areas to improve rates of uptake. 
    ​1200 - 1230

    Poster Highlights
    ​
    ​    Read more...
    Short presentations from our top scoring poster submissions. Make sure you have a look at our new digital poster boards during the breaks!

    ​Lunch
    1330 - 1415
    ​
    Focus on... Benign Haematology
    ​    Karen Deem

    ​​    Read more...
    In this session, Dr Deem will explore the common cases of benign haematological diseases in children, such as ITP, Sickle Cell, Thallassaemia and more. Dr Deem will discuss the presentations, investigations and managements which will help you in your everyday practice.
    ​1415 - 1500

    Spotlight Session (part 1)
    ​
    ​    Read more...
    We love the Spotlight Sessions, as we never know quite what we're going to get! In this session, each Trust in the PIER Network is given the opportunity to showcase something interesting, innovative or fun that they are doing locally. These ideas are there to be copied or adapted in your own department, so there is always something to take home.

    ​Tea
    1530 - 1600
    ​
    Spotlight Session (part 2)

    ​​Read more...
    More interesting ideas from around the region
    ​1600 - 1700

    Game-changing Research: The Wessex Way
    ​    Katrina Cathie
    ​​
    ​    Read more...
    Come and find out how Wessex led the way in a huge study of a new preventative treatment for RSV and how results from the study could transform our everyday practice. We will hear from teams across the region, as well as families involved in the study, highlighting the exciting outcomes that result from effective collaboration

    ​End of day 1...
    ​but please join us at the PAFTAs 2023
  • Day 2
    0900 - 0915
    ​
    Welcome​

    Welcome to the PIER conference 2023... or welcome back to day 2!
    ​0915 - 1015

    Palliative Care - It's not just about dying
    Dr Kate Renton and team
    ​​​
    ​    Read more...
    Families have a lot of misconceptions about palliative care and what it means for their children. In this MDT session, lead by Dr Kate Renton, we explore the roles of palliative care in the lives of children with long term health issues, chronic symptoms and in planning for the future.
    ​1015 - 1100

    Papers That Changed My Practice
    ​​​
    ​    Read more...    ​
    Colleagues around the region discuss academic papers that have changed the way they practice. These short, varied talks may well make you think about your own practice in different ways.

    ​Coffee
    1130 - 1230
    ​
    Submitted Abstracts

    ​Read more...    ​​
    Six presentations from across the region about the amazing research, quality improvement or education innovations that you have been doing. Vote for your favourite for the conference oral presentation prize. 

    ​Lunch
    1330 - 1500
    ​
    Workshops
    ​
    ​    ​Read more...    ​
    Chose from two of the following workshops...​

    • Pill School - Join the Poole Pill School team in sharing our journey of encouraging children and young people to switch from liquid to tablet medication. We'll cover the why's, highs and lows of what has (and hasn't) worked for us so far. Plus, there will be plenty of sweeties and water bottles to have a go yourself!
    • Puberty 101 - Notebooks and iPads at the ready as Ed Andrews leads an interactive case-based workshop covering who, when and how to investigate children and young people with puberty concerns
    • Organ Donation - come and hear from the South Central Organ Donation team about the what happens when a child is considered as a donor or recipient of an organ. They will cover eligibility for donation, advanced care planning for children with chronic conditions / complex needs, how to phrase conversations, the practicalities related to environment withdrawal occurs in and guide you on the support the SNODS team can provide. 
    • Demystifying Tissue Viability - Ever wondered how to chose the right dressing for the right wound? Do you know how to assess a laceration, a surgical wound or a burn? Do you think all dressings are basically the same? Come and hear from Fran Normal (lead tissue viability nurse at UHS) and her team who will answer all these questions and more.
    • Alexion sponsored workshops on Neurofibromatosis Type 1 - The team at Alexion present a sponsored workshop focussing on Neurofibromatosis Type 1. They will cover the recognition, diagnosis and new treatment options.

    ​Coffee
    1530 - 1630
    ​
    Kindness: An Underrated Currency
    Bob Klaber
    ​
    ​    ​Read more...    ​
    Bob will share evidence and insights into why kindness matters.  He will, in his ever engaging style, explore why it matters so much to us as individuals, why it is crucial to our teams, how it impacts morale and staff wellbeing and profoundly influences patient care. He will challenge the perception of kindness being ‘soft and fluffy’ and illustrate why kindness is an essential part of the business end of healthcare encouraging you to cultivate a culture of kindness.

    ​Conference Prize Presentations
  • Buy your tickets
    Every ticket includes coffee, refreshments and lunch on both days of the conference and access to slide sets and recordings of the presentations
  • Abstract Submissions for PIER2023 are now open. We want to encourage anyone with an interesting project or piece of work to be able to share this as a poster or oral presentation. If you have any questions about submitting an abstract, please email us at admin@piernetwork.org and we will put you in touch with someone who can help. 

    Results from Abstract marking have now been sent out to all submitters,
    Submit your abstract here
    Guidelines for Abstract Submission
    An abstract can be submitted to PIER2023 even if it has been submitted elsewhere​

    The abstract cannot contain more than 300 words. Authors names, affiliations and abstract title are not included in the word count​

    The abstract has to be entered in the accompanying form with the following structure:

    Objectives and background
    Methods
    Results
    Conclusion
    ​
    ​All sections should be completed and all abbreviations should be defined

    Prior to submission please ensure that your abstract does not contain spelling, grammatical or scientific errors. No corrections are possible after the submission deadline. The abstract text as well as the abstract title and the list of authors will be reproduced exactly as submitted. No proof reading will be done.

    If you have not previously submitted or written a conference abstract please see examples from previous years or discuss with your local PIER lead.

    Abstracts will be scored by a team of individuals from across the region, including AHPs, nurses and doctors. Accepted abstracts will be invited to present at the conference.

    The top six abstracts will be awarded oral presentations (10 mins in length). Oral presentations will be on day two of the conference.

    Further high scoring abstracts will be awarded posters of distinction and will feature in the poster walks on days one or two of the conference

    Remaining selected abstracts will be invited to present posters and will need to be displayed on both days of the conference

    ​Precise oral presentation and poster guidelines will be sent alongside acceptance correspondence. If your abstract is selected for presentation (poster or oral) then you must attend the conference.
    Abstract Template
    Abstract Title
     
    Author One (Given Name, Last Name) & affiliation (place of work),
    Author Two & affiliation,
    Author Three & affiliation etc
      
    Objectives and background:
    Provide a brief summary of background information to help the reader understand your specific project (3-5 sentences). What were the key aims/reasons for your work?
     
    Methods:
    A summary of the methodology used to address your question/problem (3-4 sentences). How did you collect the data? How did you analyse the data?  
     
    Results:
    A summary of your findings (3-5 sentences). Specific things to consider (depending on if research, QI or education) include - Key research results and figures, impacts/changes resulting from QI projects and education initiatives. Before and after comparisons. Qualitative feedback etc.  
     
    Conclusions:
    ​    What do your findings mean (for your practice and for the region etc.) (2-4 sentences)? What future work would be useful/should be done?
    Poster Presentation Guidelines
    We are really excited to have moved to displaying digital-only posters at the conference this year. This will provide better visibility, remove the need to print and transport your poster and reduce waste. To see an example of how this will work, click here

    There will not be the option to display physical posters this year 

    Please read these guidelines carefully before starting the preparation of your poster.

    Format and Content of your poster
    • Please prepare your poster in A1 format. Portrait (upright) format
    • Please do not include any commercial logos
    • We suggest to use easy to read colours and avoid very bright backgrounds/very light text
    • Posters should contain information on the work you have written about in your abstract. This should include information on background, methods, results and conclusions. Pictures, tables and graphs are a useful way of displaying results
    • For some projects sections on further/future work, feedback from staff/patients and an acknowledgement section may be appropriate 
    • If you are in doubt or unsure about how to make your poster or what your poster should contain please contact your local PIER lead or see previous examples. 
     
    Set-Up and Dismantling of your poster
    • Further information will be sent out when it becomes available. ​
    Poster Templates
    A basic template for a conference poster can be downloaded by clicking on the link here. Please change any colours, position of boxes and additional data presentation as required. Other examples of posters can be found here.

    Please include the conference logo on any poster presentations. The logo can be downloaded here.

  • The Stable, Winchester
    10th October
    6pm
    Come and join us after day 1 of the conference for food, drink and a celebration of the PAFTAs winners from across the region for 2023. Tickets are £15 inclusive of food. You are welcome to join us even if you are not able to attend the conference - the more, the merrier!

    Tickets are available by clicking the button below...
  • Sponsors
    We are very grateful to our sponsors for the conference this year who continue to enable us to provide access to our two-day event for the cheapest ticket price of any MDT paediatric conference (that we know about!). Please take time to visit their websites and speak to the representatives during the breaks.
    We are very excited to be working with Eolas Medical to provide a unified app experience with every paediatric department in the PIER network. This app which will collate local information and regional resource and improve the experience for trainees in rotating throughout the region.. Find out more about Eolas here and hear more at the conference...​
    Many medicines, even essential medicines, are not licensed for paediatric use. The use of unlicensed and off-label medicines for children has been common practice for years, meaning that children often may not receive medicines of the same quality, safety and efficacy, compared to adults. Many medicines used in children have not been adequately developed in paediatric indications resulting in “off label” use of adult medicines in children. Proveca's current research and development projects include developing epilepsy and heart failure medication for children, whilst further developing medication for children with neurodisability (for example cerebral palsy), to improve their quality of life.
    Find out more here and hear more at the conference...​

    Alexion is dedicated to transforming the lives of people affected by rare diseases and devastating conditions by continuously innovating and creating meaningful value in everything they do. Find out more here
    If you would be interested in sponsoring the PIER Conference 2023, please see our dedicated sponsor page here