Programme highlights
Opening plenary: When Crisis Strikes
Keynote: From Extraordinary Rescue to Extraordinary Response
What happens when a critically ill patient needs intensive care on one of the most remote islands on Earth, thousands of miles from the nearest specialist hospital? For Wing Commander Toby Elkington, the answer involved an extraordinary mission, a parachute jump into the South Atlantic and the challenge of delivering critical care where conventional resources and support were simply not an option. Join us for a remarkable first-hand account of medicine at its most challenging, where preparation, ingenuity and decisions under pressure can make all the difference.
But crises don't only happen on remote islands. From the resuscitation room to the battlefield, from major incidents to national emergencies, how do individuals, teams and organisations respond when the unexpected happens? Following this extraordinary keynote, an expert panel drawn from military medicine, prehospital care and intensive care leadership will explore the science and human experience of crisis response, examining decision-making under pressure, teamwork, leadership and the lessons we can all take back to our own practice. An opening plenary designed to inspire, challenge and set the tone for SOA27.
Panel discussion: When Crisis Strikes
A chaired discussion moving from individual decisions to team leadership, system resilience and national response.
A programme spanning the breadth of intensive care
- Our research sessions are back and will include the ABC trial, more to follow
- Clinical updates (in respiratory, cardiac, renal, Paeds and more) all led by clinical experts
- Communication as a lifesaving intervention with Sarah Wallace and Brendan McGrath
- Making the ICU accessible. How do we best support paediatric visitors? And do we consider intellectual disability when designing our services?
- Radiology masterclasses-back through popular demand!
- FUSIC lectures, workshops and masterclasses
Sepsis Pre-Congress Day
Delivered in partnership with the International Sepsis Forum, ESICM and the British Infection Association, the SOA27 Sepsis Pre-Congress Day will bring together experts and clinicians from across critical care to explore the latest developments in sepsis management. Created as a dedicated international meeting immediately ahead of SOA27, the day aims to provide both practical learning and high-level clinical insight.
The programme is being developed around two complementary streams: one focused on core multidisciplinary principles and best practice, and another offering advanced discussions, contemporary controversies and challenging case-based learning for experienced clinicians. Joint plenary sessions will unite delegates throughout the day, creating opportunities for shared learning and debate.
Whether you are looking to strengthen your foundations or engage with cutting-edge developments in sepsis care, this dedicated pre-congress event will provide valuable learning from an exceptional international faculty.
Resident Doctors Pre-Congress Day
Designed specifically for resident doctors working in intensive care and related specialties, this dedicated pre-congress day will provide an engaging programme of clinical learning, professional development and networking opportunities tailored to your needs.
The day will complement the wider SOA27 programme, drawing on expert faculty and will cover those areas of the curriculum that can be difficult to cover. It goes beyond clinical knowledge and there will be a focus on non technical skills, managing complexity and stress under pressure. The day will appeal to all grades with workshops on the new FCICM exam and consultant interview preparation.
Developed in collaboration with the Intensive Care Society Resident Doctors Advisory Group and the CICM Intensivists in Training Committee, the programme will create space for discussion, shared learning and practical insights, helping resident doctors build confidence, expand their knowledge and prepare for the challenges of critical care practice.
More information on the schedule and individual sessions will be shared in the coming weeks.