Healthcare professionals and students were invited to submit posters for the AfPP Annual National Conference 2026, providing a valuable opportunity to showcase innovative practice, research and quality improvement initiatives to colleagues from across the perioperative community.
The standard of submissions this year was exceptionally high, reflecting the passion, expertise and commitment that exists throughout the perioperative community. The posters demonstrated a wide range of topics, highlighting initiatives that support patient safety, inspire best practice, enhance clinical practice and contribute to positive outcomes for both patients and perioperative teams.
Following a review process, shortlisted authors were invited to present their work at the Conference. Their posters were displayed on the AfPP Conference app, allowing delegates to view the entries and vote for their favourites. The highest-rated entries were then reviewed by an expert judging panel made up of AfPP Special Interest Group leads, considering factors such as the design, originality, methodology and potential impact on practice and patient care.
After careful consideration, Alice Clayton was named the overall winner of the 2026 Poster Competition. Alice’s poster, Scaling up perioperative care for older adults living with frailty, impressed both delegates and judges, who noted its clear presentation, strong evidence base and relevance to contemporary perioperative practice. The poster successfully communicated complex information in an accessible and engaging way, demonstrating both professional expertise and a commitment to improving patient care. It also highlighted tangible improvements for both patients and staff, including a reduction in length of stay, re-admissions and medication administration, as well as demonstrating improved delirium identification and confidence following training.
Poster judge and AfPP Paediatrics Special Interest Group Lead, Fearghal Lewis, said:
“Having surgery can be a challenging, but particularly in the old person when frailty is a concern. Frailty impacts all of health care, and as an aging population, these challenges are becoming more frequent than ever before, therefore it is important to ensure patients receive person centred care within the perioperative environment.
Alice’s poster was presented in a professional manner, showcasing the excellent work the team has done with their “Scaling Up POPS” work. It demonstrates how organisational change, with a patient centred focus, can have a positive outcome.”
Congratulations to Alice on this well-deserved achievement and thank you to everyone who submitted a poster and helped make this year’s competition such a success.
Through initiatives such as this, AfPP continues to provide a platform for practitioners and students to showcase their achievements, exchange ideas and contribute to safer surgery.