RCN leader to open day two of national conference on neighbourhood care

The Royal College of Nursing’s (RCN’s) primary care nursing lead has been announced as a speaker at a new conference focused on shaping the future of neighbourhood health services and shifting more care into the community.

Kim Ball will address attendees at the Community Pharmacy and General Practice Conference in Birmingham this summer.

Taking place on 21–22 June 2026 at the National Conference Centre, Birmingham, the free, CPD-accredited conference is delivered in partnership with Nursing in Practice and the Queen’s Institute of Community Nursing (QICN) and the National Pharmacy Association (NPA).

As neighbourhood healthcare continues to evolve, the Community Pharmacy and General Practice Conference will bring together nurses, community pharmacists, GPs and primary care leaders to explore how closer working across primary care can improve patient care and reduce pressure on services.

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Ms Ball has been confirmed as a speaker as part of a plenary session exploring how the government is driving collaboration across sectors, professions and disciplines and the investment and workforce reform needed to enable change, alongside pharmacy and GP leaders.

Other speakers across the two-day event include advanced practice nurse and non-medical prescribing development lead Anna Young and chair of the Royal College of GP’s Council, Professor Victoria Tzortziou Brown.

Ms Ball said the event reflects a pivotal moment for primary care collaboration.

‘The future of primary care depends on stronger, smarter collaboration,’ she said.

‘The relationship between community pharmacy and general practice is central to that.

‘By bringing professionals closer together, we can reduce pressure, improve continuity, and create a more connected experience for patients and the wider nursing community.’

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Sessions will also highlight the role of nurses in shaping neighbourhood healthcare, including integrated working, vaccination delivery, prescribing, weight management and patient-centred care.

Nurses can join Ms Ball for the Opening Plenary – Neighbours but Why not Friends? On Monday June 22.

The event programme focuses on real-world, case-based learning, with sessions designed to address key challenges facing primary care, including access, workload, medicines optimisation and service integration.

Across five core themes – Collaboration in Action, Business and Service Innovation, Leadership and Workforce, Technology and AI for Integration, and Clinical Skills Booster – attendees will hear practical examples of how teams are working together to deliver more joined-up care. A range of clinical, operational and system leaders will be speaking across the two days.

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Whether you join for one day or the full two-day programme, the Community Pharmacy and General Practice Conference is free to attend, and worth up to 10 CPD points.

Find out more about the agenda and register for free here.