Conference Welcome by Mark Hawkins CEO Rowcroft Hospice

Welcome to the Dementia and Palliative Care Conference podcast 2026, brought to you by Rowcroft Hospice. Across this series, you’ll hear powerful conversations from experts at the forefront of dementia research, policy, and frontline practice. From national perspectives with NHS England’s Dr Jeremy Isaacs, to international insights from Dr Jenny van der Steen, and regional innovation led by Ian Sherriff in Devon, this conference brings together a truly diverse range of expertise.We also hear directly from people living with dementia, alongside practitioners and researchers exploring vital topics like advance care planning, empathy in care, supporting care teams, nutrition and choice at the end of life, and groundbreaking models of palliative dementia care.Whether you’re a healthcare professional, caregiver, or simply passionate about improving experiences for people living with dementia, this series offers practical insights, fresh thinking, and real human stories.Thank you for joining us and we hope you enjoy the series.This podcast is free to listen - but the care behind it isn’t.Rowcroft Hospice is a registered charity, and much of our work is made possible thanks to the generosity of local supporters. We provide outstanding care to people with life-limiting illnesses and their families across South Devon—through our inpatient and outpatient services, as well as vital care at home.We’re also planning to expand our impact even further, with a pioneering 60-bed dementia and complex nursing care home at our site in Torquay, designed to support some of the most vulnerable people in our community.If you’ve found value in this podcast and would like to support our work, please visit rowcrofthospice.org.uk/donate thank you.This podcast series is recorded and produced by Steve Hindley at iNarrator