First ever delirium conference hosted in Somerset

Colleagues in our dementia and delirium team hosted the first‑ever Delirium Conference on Tuesday 10 March, marking a major landmark for the way we understand, recognise and respond to delirium across our health and care system.

With a packed room, dynamic speakers and hands‑on learning throughout the day, the event brought together colleagues from a wide range of teams and professions to deepen understanding, challenge assumptions and strengthen our collective approach to delirium care.

The programme featured an exceptional line‑up of experts who shared their knowledge, experience and passion with honesty and energy.

Professor Sube Banerjee, a leading figure in dementia and delirium research, set the tone with powerful insights into the national picture and the importance of recognising delirium early, reminding everyone of the life‑changing impact that timely assessment can have.

Somerset GP, Dr Peter Bagshaw, explored how delirium presents in primary care and the crucial role of community awareness, while our care of older people consultant, Dr Rachel O’Toole, offered a compelling clinical perspective on improving outcomes for patients and families.

One of the day’s standout sessions came from Emily Hitchens, our dementia and delirium educator, who took attendees on a detective‑style journey through the complexities of delirium, sharpening teams’ investigative skills when assessing causes and contributing factors.

The conference placed a strong emphasis on immersive, practical learning, with activities designed to shift thinking and spark conversation.

“Blurred Lines,” delivered by Tammie Everleigh, educator/facilitator in our dementia and delirium team, invited colleagues to explore the differences between dementia and delirium through a lively quiz format that prompted reflection and challenged assumptions.

She says: “So many people, even in health and care roles, still find it difficult to distinguish between dementia and delirium, and that misunderstanding can delay the right care or diagnosis and post diagnosis support.

“Creating a fun, interactive space to explore those differences really helped people build confidence and ask the questions they might not usually feel able to ask.”

“Clear the Fog,” a sensory session delivered by Jade Brown, one of our dementia and delirium educators, gave colleagues a visceral experience of what delirium can feel like, prompting powerful discussions about how it affects perception, memory and sense of reality.

Our technology enhanced learning (TEL) team also provided a VR experience that used technology to deepen empathy and give teams a different lens through which to understand the condition.

The voices of people with lived experience were central to the day, and attendees heard a moving first‑hand account from a former patient care for by our critical care unit, who described their experience of delirium with honesty and bravery, bringing home the emotional and psychological impact of the condition.

A session from our psychiatric liaison team explored the nuanced relationship between delirium, depression or both, while Dr O’Toole returned for a second session on prescribing and de‑prescribing, highlighting how medication decisions can influence delirium risk and recovery.

Reflecting on the success of the event, Tammie adds: “This conference has been a long time in the making, and seeing so many colleagues come together with such enthusiasm was incredibly inspiring.

“Delirium is often misunderstood or overlooked, but the energy in the room showed just how committed our teams are to improving the way we recognise and respond to it. This feels like the start of something really important for Somerset.

“As the first event of its kind in the county, the conference set a new benchmark for collaboration, education and shared learning around delirium.

“It was exceptionally well attended, high‑energy and full of momentum, demonstrating how passionate colleagues are about driving improvements in this often‑misunderstood area of care.

“We want to say a huge thank you to everyone who contributed, attended, facilitated or supported the day. Together, we’re building a stronger, more informed and more compassionate approach to delirium across our services, and this event has laid the foundations for even greater progress in the months and years ahead.”