HC2010, which is owned and run by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, is for anybody involved in the planning and delivery of care and treatment; doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, managers, technicians, and informatics professionals.

Delegates can now register for the 3-day showcase and exhibition online at www.hcshowcase.org. Registration, which this year has been changed to allow attendees to benefit from their membership of the Institute, will also use the latest in barcode and mobile technology to automate and streamline the registration process.

The 3-day conference programme, comprising 12 streams focussed on a wide range of issues, has also been announced. Speakers at HC2010 include Christine Connelly, CIO for Health, Jim Easton, National Director of Improvement and Efficiency, and Professor Heinz Wolff, Founding Director, Brunel Institute for Bioengineering. Also speaking will be Dr Aiden Halligan, Director of Education at University College London Hospital, Professor Michael West, Executive Dean at Aston University, as well as David Behan, Director General of Social Care, at the Department of Health, and Christine Goodfellow, Director of the Improving Information Sharing and Management Programme at the Department of Children, Schools and Families.

There will be a case study on the UKs first NHS/Local Authority integrated ICT service (between NHS Herefordshire and Herefordshire Council), as well as interactive workshops about information and its relationship with the delivery of care, hosted by the BCS Health forum. Speakers from Bristol Royal Hospital for Children will talk about the lessons learned in developing a knowledge sharing culture across the NHS.

Delegates will be able to contribute their views during an interactive café discussion about informatics as a profession and how it should be recognised for the critical role it plays in the delivery of a modern, safe, high quality and value for money health service. This session will be led by Di Millen, Head of Informatics Development Department for Healths Informatics, Policy and Planning unit.

This year, a dedicated career support zone has been created, offering the opportunity for one-to-sessions for health informatics employees or other NHS staff looking for a career in the industry.

Around 80 per cent of exhibition floor space for the event has now been reserved by exhibitors.

Mike Sinclair, head of the HC2010 organising committee, says: We are very pleased that the new-look HC2010 is to be complemented by the new registration technology.

HC2010 will showcase some of the best and most current technical systems, services and solutions used to support care and treatment in the world today. As well as current best practice, and examples of leading edge technology, the conference will include contributions from policy makers, and examples of innovative strategic and tactical practice across the world of health and social care informatics.

Delegate rates for HC2010 provide tremendous value for money, giving access over the 3 days to all 12 conference streams and the exhibition, including the conference gala dinner, from as little as £275. The rates are shown in full on the HC website.

Mike concludes: Now, more than ever, it is vital for each of us in the informatics community to network with other colleagues and make connections with suppliers. We are aiming for HC2010 to provide a unique opportunity to learn, share, debate and network, all under one roof. We believe that this event is a must for all those involved or interested in informatics and that it represents very good value for money.

ASSIST (Association for Informatics Professionals in Health and Social Care) will also hold its National Conference alongside HC at the centre, on 29 April.

To register for HC2010, click here.