Aortic Dissection Awareness at RCEM Annual Conference, April 2026
Ending today Aortic Dissection Awareness UK & Ireland spent three days at the RCEM Annual Conference 2026, engaging with emergency care professionals to promote the THINK AORTA® campaign and improve recognition of this life-threatening condition.
ADA was invited to host a dedicated exhibition stand at the RCEM annual meeting (28-30 April 2026), the team focused primarily on the THINK AORTA® campaign - our flagship initiative aimed at improving early recognition of aortic dissection in emergency settings.
The campaign encourages clinicians to consider aortic dissection in patients presenting with unexplained severe chest, back or abdominal pain, and to use CT scanning to rule out this often-fatal condition if missed. Now active in over 13 countries, the THINK AORTA campaign continues to grow in both reach and impact.
The RCEM audience, comprising emergency physicians, nurses, paramedics, pharmacists and students, proved to be the perfect group for this message.
Encouragingly, many attendees told us they had already seen THINK AORTA posters in their workplaces and were highly supportive of the campaign.
We also received a strong number of requests for additional posters and patient guides, helping to extend awareness into new and further into existing clinical environments.
The conference featured several notable moments. On Day Two (29 April), HRH The Princess Royal attended, reflecting her ongoing support for emergency care and clinical excellence.
On Day Three (30 April), Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Wes Streeting addressed delegates, highlighting the importance of strengthening emergency services and improving patient outcomes across the NHS.
That same day, our booth welcomed RCEM President Dr Ian “Higgi” Higginson, a senior Emergency Department consultant at University Hospitals Plymouth.
With experience in a major trauma centre with an aortic surgery service, he is a strong supporter of the THINK AORTA campaign. We were also pleased to meet Derek Prentice, Chair of the RCEM Lay Committee, who champions the importance of the patient voice within the College.
Overall, RCEM 2026 was a highly valuable opportunity to connect with our core audience, reinforce the importance of early diagnosis, and continue expanding the reach of THINK AORTA - helping to save lives through greater awareness in emergency care.
