Over 500 people attended the flagship two-day conference and awards for healthcare people professionals on 3-4 October.

Delivering his opening keynote address to a packed grand ballroom, Professor Michael West, senior visiting fellow at The King's Fund and professor of organisational psychology at Lancaster University, said it was the job of the conference to help provide hope in a ‘chilling, worrying time for humanity'. 

In her debut address following her recent appointment, HPMA chief executive Julie Rogers, acknowledged these were ‘awfully challenging times' for the NHS with a ‘need for hope'. 

The theme of hope through collaboration continued into the second day during a panel discussion between workforce leaders representing the UK's four nations. 

Fiona Hogg, chief people officer, Directorate of Health Workforce for the Scottish Government, said: ‘If we don't have hope as leaders in the system, everybody else's heads will go down. We have a huge responsibility to identify where we can do more, where we can make a difference and where we can do better.' 

However, in his keynote speech, David D'Souza, director of profession, Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, acknowledged hope was only useful ‘if it comes with a plan', urging the sector to continue to focus collaboratively on delivery. 

Closing proceedings chair of the HPMA Trustees board, Damian McAlister, said it had been a ‘conference to inspire hope' but also one that had set a challenge to the HR profession ‘to take on and drive the solutions that are going to sustain and improve the NHS as we move forward'.