Major Nursing Informatics conference bid won by a team led by BCS
20 Jan 2021 12:35 PM
A bid to hold a major global digital health conference in Manchester has been won by a British and Irish consortium led by BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT.
The International Medical Informatics Association (IMIA) Nursing Informatics Conference will be held in the summer of 2024. It is one of the largest international conference that is dedicated to nursing informatics and is held every four years. The conference attracts several hundred delegates who come together to share their experience and learn about latest developments and best practice.
The lead organiser of the bidding team, Nick Hardiker, Professor of Nursing and Health Informatics at the University of Huddersfield, and a member of the BCS Nursing Specialist Group Executive Committee, said: “Informatics is increasingly coming to the fore as a necessary foundation for sharing data effectively and improving patient safety and health outcomes – it is no longer a niche activity but is rapidly becoming integrated into the daily work of nurses, midwives and other health professionals.
“COVID 19 has seen rapid digitalisation across health and social care settings, and nursing practice environments are no exception. This conference will allow delegates from around the world, from nurses and midwives in practice, through to senior academics and policy leaders, to come together to learn how informatics can be used to its fullest potential, ethically and efficiently.”
The bid had the backing of the NHS Chief Nursing Officer for England, Ruth May, who said:
“While we know what a positive difference good nursing makes, we do still need better access to reliable data to increase the visibility of the nursing contribution and to inform practice.
“This conference will provide opportunities to re-energise nursing informatics as a clinical academic discipline to support the advancement and direction of nursing practice. It will help us drive innovation and increase momentum, to share knowledge and learn from other countries.”
The consortium that developed the successful bid was made up of a team of senior health service representatives from across all four of the devolved UK nations and the Republic of Ireland, along with leading health informatics academics. Together, the bidding team form part of the Five Country Digital Leadership Group (DLG) for Nurses and Midwives in the UK and Ireland.
Speaking on behalf of the wider DLG, Angela Reed said:
“The Five Country Digital Leadership Group (DLG) for Nurses and Midwives in the UK and Ireland is delighted to lend its full support to the World Congress on Nursing Informatics hosted by IMIA Nursing Informatics Specialist Group – Manchester 2024.
“This global conference will showcase the best of nursing and midwifery adoption, research and innovation, highlighting the best of nursing and midwifery practice, digital capabilities and future potential.
“Manchester is a highly accessible venue providing an opportunity for nurses and midwives across the world to present their work to a diverse audience, while learning from each other.
“The DLG looks forward to welcoming our colleagues from across the globe to this vital conference in 2024.”
Contact the Press Office