The Association for Perioperative Practice (AfPP) is honoured to welcome Paula McGowan OBE as a speaker at its Annual National Conference at the University of Warwick on Friday 8 August 2025. A passionate and fearless campaigner for people with learning disabilities and autism, Paula will share her deeply personal story and the legacy of her son, Oliver McGowan, a legacy that continues to reshape training, awareness, and practice across the UK healthcare system.
A mother’s mission, a national movement
Paula’s journey into campaigning began in the most devastating of circumstances, following the preventable death of her teenage son, Oliver McGowan.
Paula says that from the moment Oliver was born, it was clear he was extraordinary. A joyful and determined child, Oliver overcame two episodes of bacterial meningitis, which left him with mild disabilities including epilepsy and high-functioning autism. But these never held him back. His charisma and compassion shone through. He played for England’s development football squad, ranked third nationally in the 200m track, became a school prefect, and inspired everyone around him with his sense of humour, kindness, and drive to help others.
Despite his resilience and positive outlook, Oliver tragically died in 2016 following a series of preventable failures in care. Against the explicit wishes of his family and in contradiction to medical warnings, Oliver was repeatedly prescribed antipsychotic medications that he was known to react adversely to. A lack of understanding around autism, poor communication between clinicians and caregivers, inappropriate use of restraint, and a failure to adapt environments to meet his needs all contributed to Oliver’s deterioration.
The consequence was devastating: neuroleptic malignant syndrome, severe brain swelling, and ultimately, the loss of a young man with so much to give. Oliver passed away on 11 November 2016, Armistice Day, poignantly, as a military child raised in the RAF family.
Paula says his story is a stark reminder of what happens when practitioners fail to ask, listen, and act in partnership with those who know the patient best.
While grieving the loss of her youngest child, Paula remained deeply committed to her role as mother to her two older children. Their strength, love, and support became a cornerstone of her resolve to campaign for justice and systemic change.
Determined to make a difference
Determined that no other family should suffer a similar tragedy, Paula launched a parliamentary petition calling for all health and social care staff in England to receive mandatory training in learning disability and autism awareness.
Her campaign gained cross-party support and led to the publication of the government’s response, Right to Be Heard, in 2019. In 2022, her work culminated in a landmark achievement when the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training became law as part of the Health and Care Act 2022. The training, developed in co-production with people who have lived experience, aims to transform how health and social care professionals support autistic individuals and those with intellectual disabilities.
A national milestone ahead
The impact of Paula’s campaign continues to shape national policy. The Code of Practice for the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training is set to be published on 6 September 2025. This vital step will mark the beginning of the accreditation and governance phases, ensuring consistent quality and delivery of the training across all health and social care settings. It will also launch a longitudinal study to evaluate the training’s effectiveness and support continuous improvement in how neurodivergent people are supported across services.
A trailblazer for equity and co-production
Paula brings lived experience, professional insight, and a passionate belief in the need for change. A qualified early years practitioner specialising in neurodiversity, she is an ambassador for multiple charities and has delivered keynote speeches at leading health and academic conferences across the UK and Australia.
Among her many accolades, Paula was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2021 and became an Honorary University Fellow of the University of Plymouth in 2023. She is also a published co-author of academic works advocating for the safe withdrawal of unnecessary psychotropic medication and better epilepsy care in neurodiverse adults.
A voice for compassionate practice
In her powerful session at the AfPP Conference, Paula will share The Oliver McGowan Story and explain the national implementation of Oliver’s Training, now being rolled out across health and social care settings. She will challenge perioperative practitioners to reflect on the importance of reasonable adjustments, inclusive care, and seeing the person, not just the patient.
“Patients are scared, and this is multiplied many times over if they are neurodivergent,” Paula says. “Respect the carers, because they are an essential part of the team. The care and treatment belong to the patient. As professionals, we must ask ourselves: do we want another Oliver McGowan on our hands?”
Looking ahead
Despite currently undergoing cancer treatment, Paula continues to campaign and educate, driven by her love for Oliver and her belief in safer, more compassionate care. As she nears her 60th birthday this September, she acknowledges it has been a long road, one she instinctively knew she had to walk.
“I had no idea when I started the petition that this is where it would lead,” she reflects. “I’ve been lucky to connect with the right people. Eventually, I hope to step back, once Oliver’s Training is rolled out and fully embedded into everyday practice. But until then, I will keep going.”
Don’t miss this unmissable session
Paula McGowan’s keynote promises to be a profound, moving, and motivating moment at this year’s conference. Her message is clear: put patients at the heart of everything, and give them the respect, dignity, and time they need and deserve.
Paula says it’s imperative to “Ask, listen, do.” She reminds us that understanding autism and learning disabilities isn’t a specialist’s job, it is everyone’s job.
Paula’s story is one of love, courage, and a mother’s unwavering determination to change healthcare for the better.
Join us on Friday 8 August at the AfPP Annual National Conference to hear Paula’s extraordinary story and learn how, together, we can help create a future where every person receives the care, understanding, and equity they deserve.
Don’t miss the opportunity to hear Paula and be part of a powerful two-day event dedicated to advancing safe, respectful, and inclusive perioperative practice. Tickets for the AfPP Annual National Conference are available now, but be quick, sales close on 16 July 2025.
Visit: https://conference.afpp.org.uk/packages-pricing/ to secure your place.
Picture shows Paula, Oliver and family.
