26/10/2026
In September 2026, Dr Sharon McCloskey represented the Northern Ireland Advanced Communication Skills Training (ACST) Programme at the International Conference on Communication in Healthcare in Belfast, sharing the programme’s progress in developing advanced communication skills across the health and social care workforce.
The conference reinforced the importance of empathy, compassionate communication and patient partnership in delivering safe, effective and person-centred care.
“Adding a dose of empathy into every health consultation increases patient satisfaction and experience by 10%, and reduces the odds of patient complaints by 80%.”
Howick J. (2025), University of Leicester
The insights gained strongly align with the ACST Programme’s commitment to improving experiences and outcomes for patients, families and healthcare professionals across Northern Ireland.
To see more about the conference or ACST, please visit: Advanced Communication Skills Training for Health Professionals in NI | Northern Ireland Cancer Network
