Join the Better Health & Care Hub as part of the 2026 Pint of Science Festival.

We all rely on care – from the health services we use, to the people around us, to the ways we look after ourselves. Join us for an evening where researchers reveal why making patient care safer is trickier than you might think, how a simple family foot check could make a big difference for people living with diabetes, and why staying active and connected really matters as we get older.

Avoiding harm and making health services safer: Why is it so challenging to improve care and outcomes?

Dr Phoebe Averill, Better Health & Care Hub Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Healthcare is now more advanced than ever, with new insights and interventions made possible by a wealth of data and developments in technology. Despite this, patients continue to experience unintended harm when accessing services, with reports that the cost of settling clinical negligence claims in NHS services has tripled over the last two decades. Drawing on examples from physical and mental healthcare services, this talk explores why is it so challenging to make care safer for patients. We’ll also consider the vital role that patients and unpaid carers play in improving care and outcomes.

Detection of diabetic peripheral neuropathy: Simple home-based foot checks to prevent complications

Dr. Joseph Suglo, Better Health & Care Hub Postdoctoral Research Fellow

People living with diabetes and long-term high blood sugar are at higher risk of foot problems, including nerve damage (diabetic peripheral neuropathy) and foot ulcers. Because nerve damage can reduce feeling in the feet, problems may go unnoticed until they become serious. Early detection and regular foot checks can help prevent ulcers. We are evaluating a simple family-supported foot-care approach called FAM-FootCare. The programme aims to help people with diabetes and their support people carry out regular foot checks at home and know when to seek help from their GP or podiatry service.

Active and connected: Supporting healthy ageing in older adulthood

Dr Ragy Tadrous, Better Health & Care Hub Postdoctoral Research Fellow

People are living longer, but the years we live without disability are not keeping pace. As our population ages, how can we help older adults age well? This talk explores the power of being physically and socially active in preventing conditions such as heart disease, obesity and poor mental wellbeing. We’ll unpack what “being active” really means, why too much sitting harms health and simple ways to sit less and move more in daily life. We’ll also consider how everyday environments can exclude older adults, and what changes matter most for healthy ageing.