Healthcare Catering Live 2026
Putting Patients Back at the Heart of Food
Held under the guidance of Philip Shelley, Senior Operational Manager and National Lead for Food, NHS England
Free for NHS
CPD Accredited
Live Cooking
Panel Debates
Free Lunch
Why this event exists
"Food is not just a service. It is part of treatment."
"When patients don’t eat well, recovery slows, strength declines, and length of stay can rise. Healthcare food teams are being asked to deliver more than meals — they’re delivering nourishment, dignity, safety, and clinical value, under intense operational pressure."
Philip Shelley, Senior Operational Manager and National Lead for Food, NHS England
What makes Healthcare Catering Live different
A practical, NHS-focused day built around real challenges — not theory.
Live Clinical Cooking Demonstrations
Watch practical techniques for improving nutrition, intake, and patient experience — demonstrated live in a fully built healthcare kitchen environment.
Led by NHS Food Leadership
Guided by Philip Shelley and NHS England’s national food programme, ensuring discussions remain grounded in real NHS priorities and future direction.
Real-World, Take-Back Solutions
Ideas you can implement immediately — from improving patient nutrition and safety to reducing waste and supporting Net Zero targets.
Focused, High-Value Learning
One focused day, 7 CPD points, and meaningful peer exchange — designed specifically for NHS chefs, dietitians and catering decision-makers.
A growing community of NHS food leaders
From Our 2025 Event
Healthcare Catering Live is now an established annual flagship event — bringing together chefs, dietitians and catering managers from across the UK.
Designed for NHS decision-makers
Built for the people shaping patient food every day
NHS Chefs & Food Production Leads
For chefs leading production, regeneration, special diets, texture modification and patient experience — where nutrition and consistency matter.
Dietitians & Nutrition Teams
For dietitians working alongside food services to improve intake, reduce risk of malnutrition, and embed clinical nutrition into daily care.
Catering Managers & Heads of Service
For operational leaders responsible for standards, value, audits, workforce, sustainability, suppliers and delivering measurable service improvement.
What you’ll experience on the day?
A focused learning day
Live cooking demonstrations
Practical techniques delivered in a fully built kitchen setting — focused on intake, nutrition density, and patient experience.
Clinical talks & applied insight
Evidence-informed sessions connecting food service decisions to nutritional risk, recovery, and safe delivery.
Exhibition + tasting breaks
Meet carefully selected partners and sample solutions during breaks and lunchtime — all within one room for easy access.
Panel discussions & Q&A
A candid space to explore real NHS pressures — standards, workforce, value, safety and what’s changing nationally.
Led by national healthcare food leadership
Guided by the people shaping the future of healthcare food
Philip Shelley
Senior Operational Manager & National Lead for Food — NHS England
Tim Radcliffe
Net Zero Food Programme Manager — NHS England
More Speakers Coming
Additional speakers and practical contributors will be announced as the agenda develops.
Industry partners supporting healthcare food
Working with organisations shaping healthcare catering
200 NHS places. One focused day.
Register
Healthcare Catering Live 2026 is free to attend for eligible NHS chefs, dietitians and catering managers — and places are reviewed to keep the room relevant, practical and decision-focused.
Free for NHS
CPD Accredited
Live Cooking
Panel Debates
Free Lunch