International Home Care Nurses Organization 5th Global Conference highlights the growing impact of home and community nursing

Written by Matthew Bradby

More than 200 nursing leaders, researchers, educators, policymakers, and clinicians from 33 countries gathered in London from 17–19 June for the International Home Care Nurses Organization (IHCNO) 5th Global Conference, Caring Beyond Walls: The Power of Nursing in Homes, Communities and Primary Care Settings.

Hosted jointly by the International Home Care Nurses Organization (IHCNO), the Association of District Nurse and Community Nurse Educators (ADNE), and City St George's, University of London, the conference showcased the growing importance of home and community nursing in addressing some of the world's most pressing healthcare challenges.

As healthcare systems around the world confront aging populations, rising rates of chronic disease, workforce shortages, and increasing demand for care delivered closer to home, delegates explored how nurses are leading innovative care models that improve health, strengthen communities, and build more sustainable healthcare systems.

The conference featured more than 100 oral presentations and posters presented alongside an internationally recognised keynote programme. Across 19 concurrent scientific sessions, researchers from North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Oceania showcased innovations in digital health, artificial intelligence, Hospital at Home, integrated care, workforce development, advanced nursing practice, infection prevention, chronic disease management, child and family health, mental health, rehabilitation, family caregiving, palliative care, and culturally responsive nursing. Together, the keynote programme and scientific sessions demonstrated the growing maturity of home and community nursing as a global specialty and reinforced its essential role in strengthening healthcare systems and improving population health.

A recurring message emerged throughout the conference: the future sustainability of healthcare systems depends on strengthening home and community nursing through investment in research, education, leadership, workforce development, and evidence-informed policy.

Global leadership and policy

Delegates were welcomed by Professor Natalie Armstrong, Executive Dean of the School of Health and Medical Sciences at City St George's, University of London, together with conference co-chairs Dr Susan Hinck, President of IHCNO; Dr Dame Crystal Oldman, DBE, CBE, Vice President of IHCNO; and Mark Millar, Chair of ADNE and Lecturer (District Nursing) at City St George's.

Opening keynote presentations by Dr Karen Bonner, MBE, Regional Chief Nurse for NHS England (London), and Professor Dame Elizabeth Anionwu, OM, DBE, CBE, FRCN, FQICN, celebrated nursing leadership while challenging delegates to continue advancing health equity, culturally responsive care, and compassionate leadership. Dr Bonner highlighted the vital contribution of internationally educated nurses, who now comprise nearly half of London's registered nursing workforce, while Dame Elizabeth reflected on her pioneering career improving care for people living with sickle cell disease and her lifelong commitment to addressing health inequities.

Additional keynote speakers, including Dr Barbara Stilwell, Professor Renata Barros, Duncan Burton, Paul Labourne, Professor Nicola Ranger, Professor Alison Machin, Professor Michelle Bateman, Professor Alison Leary, and Paul Trevatt, explored nursing leadership, workforce development, professional advocacy, and policy innovation across diverse healthcare systems.

A keynote by Dr Howard Catton, Chief Executive Officer of the International Council of Nurses, placed home and community nursing within the broader global agenda for health systems strengthening. Drawing on the findings of the State of the World's Nursing Report 2025, Dr Catton emphasized that 90% of essential interventions needed to achieve Universal Health Coverage can be delivered through a primary health care approach, while 75% of the projected health gains associated with the Sustainable Development Goals can be achieved through primary health care. He underscored that nurses are "essential to the reorientation of health systems toward a primary health care approach," particularly in reaching disadvantaged communities, migrants, displaced populations, and people with disabilities. Through community engagement, he noted, nurses bridge gaps among healthcare providers, social workers, patients, caregivers, and communities, building trust and amplifying community voices in health planning and service delivery. He concluded by challenging delegates to "Own and Embrace Your Power—and Change the World."

Taken together, the keynote programme demonstrated that leadership, policy, workforce development, and professional advocacy are fundamental to strengthening home and community nursing and achieving Universal Health Coverage, advancing the Sustainable Development Goals, and building more equitable, resilient health systems.

Science, innovation, and international collaboration

The scientific programme also highlighted advances in child and family health, mental health, learning disability nursing, and culturally responsive care, demonstrating nursing's contribution across the life course and across diverse healthcare settings. The conference’s scientific contributions will reach an even wider audience through publication of the conference proceedings in an upcoming issue of the British Journal of Community Nursing. Beyond the lecture halls, delegates established new international collaborations, exchanged educational resources, explored multicountry research initiatives, and strengthened professional networks that will continue long after the conference concluded. Capacity-building opportunities included a pre-conference policy masterclass led by Professor Gemma Stacey and a writing-for-publication workshop led by Rida Fazal, Editor of the British Journal of Community Nursing, equipping participants with practical strategies to strengthen both their policy influence and scholarly impact.

Advancing the global home care nursing profession

One of the conference's defining achievements was the launch of the IHCNO Scope and Standards of Home Care Nursing, providing the first internationally developed framework to support excellence, consistency, professional development, and recognition of home care nursing as a specialty across diverse healthcare systems. The conference also highlighted international efforts to strengthen home care nursing education and certification, reinforcing IHCNO's commitment to advancing home care nursing as a recognised specialty.

The conference also celebrated leadership by presenting the 2026 IHCNO DAISY Nurse Leader Award to Mark Millar, recognising his outstanding contributions to community nursing education, professional leadership, and the successful planning of the global conference.

One of the conference’s most memorable events was an evening at the Florence Nightingale Museum, which provided delegates with an opportunity to reflect on nursing's rich history through presentations by Professor Baroness Anne Marie Rafferty, performances portraying Florence Nightingale and Mary Seacole, and a moving wreath-laying ceremony at the Mary Seacole Memorial, where Felicia Kwaku, OBE, Chair of the Mary Seacole Trust, reflected on Seacole’s enduring legacy. Together, these events highlighted the enduring values of compassion, courage, leadership, and service that continue to define nursing today.

The final scientific session focused on nurses working in conflict zones. Presenters from Myanmar and Ukraine described how they continue delivering education, rehabilitation, and essential community-based healthcare despite armed conflict, political instability, and humanitarian crises, reminding delegates of the resilience, courage, and global solidarity of the nursing profession.

Looking ahead

As populations age, chronic illness increases, and healthcare systems face growing workforce pressures, home and community nursing will play an increasingly central role in delivering accessible, person-centred, and sustainable care.

The conference concluded with IHCNO's traditional Closing Light Ceremony, symbolising delegates carrying new knowledge, stronger international partnerships, and renewed inspiration back to their own countries and communities.

The IHCNO 5^th Global Conference reaffirmed that the future of healthcare will increasingly be shaped beyond hospital walls through nursing leadership, scientific discovery, international collaboration, and person-centred care.

Conference sponsors

IHCNO gratefully acknowledges the support of Bayada Home Health Care (Platinum Sponsor), EBSCO Dynamic Health (Gold Sponsor), and Always Best Care Senior Services (Silver Sponsor).

IHCNO also extends its appreciation to City St George's, University of London, and the Association of District Nurse and Community Nurse Educators for their partnership in hosting the conference.