Webinar Series 2026: Difficult Conversations in Critical Care

Difficult conversations are a core part of critical care and outreach practice. Whether discussing clinical deterioration, uncertainty, treatment escalation, end-of-life care, or bereavement, these conversations can be emotionally complex for patients, families and staff.

 

This webinar will explore how clinicians can approach difficult conversations with compassion, clarity and confidence. Drawing on psychological practice in adult critical care, the session will consider how to support patients and relatives when receiving complex or distressing information, how to communicate around death and dying in acute healthcare settings, and how staff can reflect on the emotional impact of this work.

 

The session is aimed at Critical Care Outreach practitioners and clinicians involved in recognising deterioration, escalation planning, family communication and end-of-life support.

 

Dr Polly Fitch is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist working in Adult Critical Care at the Royal London Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust. She has specialist experience supporting patients, relatives and staff in intensive care, with a particular interest in communicating about death, dying, bereavement and complex medical decision-making in diverse patient populations.

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