NACEL Returns to the Community Hospitals Association Conference 2026
The National Audit of Care at the End of Life (NACEL) team were delighted to attend the Community Hospitals Association (CHA) Conference on 7–8 May 2026 for the second consecutive year, offering a valuable opportunity to connect with colleagues across the community hospital sector.
Representing NACEL at this year’s event were Joylin Brockett, Senior Delivery Manager, and Mary Miller, Clinical Lead. Across the two days, they engaged with delegates from across the UK, contributing to a vibrant and collaborative environment that showcased the passion, commitment and energy within community hospitals. Strong engagement from attendees reflected the sector’s continued drive to deliver high-quality, compassionate care closer to home.
A Vital Role for Community Hospitals
There are currently 365 community hospitals with inpatient beds across the UK, and the conference highlighted a growing appetite within these settings to expand and strengthen their role in delivering high-quality, local care.
Community hospitals are uniquely positioned to support the ambitions set out in the NHS 10-Year Plan, particularly the “Hospital to Home” agenda, by providing care within local communities, supporting patients and those important to them at crucial moments.
The Value of NACEL Data
NACEL data continues to play an important role in supporting community hospitals in discussions with local neighbourhood teams and wider system partners. The audit’s insights provide robust evidence to inform decision-making and strengthen collaboration across healthcare systems.
Encouragingly, findings from NACEL in 2024 and 2025 demonstrated that community hospitals deliver care at least as good as and often better than acute hospital settings for patients at the end of life. These results provide reassurance and confidence for community hospital teams, patients, families and colleagues across acute services alike. Patients discharged to community hospitals can expect very good quality care, alongside valued support for those close to them.
Sharing Learning and Driving Improvement
During the conference, Joylin and Mary delivered two workshops showcasing the NACEL results tool and wider elements of the audit, attended by more than 40 delegates. They also facilitated three additional workshops, creating space for knowledge sharing, discussion and peer learning.
In addition, Mary delivered a plenary lecture to approximately 100 attendees, further highlighting the importance of end-of-life care quality and the role of audit data in driving improvement.
Looking Ahead
The NACEL team looks forward to continuing its collaboration with the Community Hospitals Association and supporting the sector in highlighting and strengthening the excellent work being carried out across community hospitals in the UK.
Events such as the CHA Conference reinforce the critical role of community hospitals in the healthcare system and the value of working together to ensure high-quality care at the end of life for all.