South & West Herts Active Connections Conference 2026

Health professionals from across South and West Hertfordshire came together on Monday 2 February 2026 for an Active Connections Conference: Embedding Physical Activity into Healthcare — an engaging, knowledge-packed event dedicated to strengthening the role of movement within clinical practice.  

Hosted jointly by the Herts Sport & Physical Activity Partnership (HSP) and Hertfordshire County Council’s (HCC) Public Health team, the conference brought together clinicians, personalised care staff, health system leaders, and physical activity partners committed to transforming how healthcare services promote and support physical activity. 

Building on the success of the Active Connections programme, which has been making a significant impact since its launch in January 2024, the event showcased how physical activity can be effectively embedded across the health system. Through interactive sessions, real-world examples, and shared learning, attendees explored practical ways to integrate movement conversations and activity-based interventions into routine care — helping residents become more active, improve their wellbeing, and prevent and manage long-term health conditions. 

The conference was enriched by the insightful and highly valued contributions of our distinguished speakers: Louise Savory (HCC Public Health), Annie Holden (Active Partnerships National Organisation), and Lifestyle Medicine Physicians Dr Richard Pile and Dr Nicola Phillips. Their presentations brough expertise and inspiration to the day, covering both national and local perspectives. Together, they explored national work to strengthen pathways between healthcare and physical activity, and demonstrated how lifestyle medicine empowers individuals in everyday life; culminating in a compelling question: “Is movement the most underused medicine in the NHS?” 

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Attendees left the conference energised, sharing a range of reflections on what had resonated most throughout the day: 

“The conference was a useful opportunity to understand the bigger picture of policy, strategy and research, and to then see how this looked locally in the GP surgeries” 

"Events like today are fantastic at bringing people together across the sector - integrating different health professionals with activity providers. Networking is brilliant and just understanding what's out there in Hertfordshire"

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The South & West Herts Active Connections Conference marked another important step in strengthening collaboration, upskilling the workforce, and building a more active, prevention-focused healthcare culture across Hertfordshire. 

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Remember, HSP and HCC Public Health are here to help healthcare professionals turn conversations about physical activity into meaningful health outcomes through the Active Connections programme. To access support, email hsphealth@herts.ac.uk.