Understanding and Combatting Health Misinformation: Panel Discussion

22 Apr

Wednesday 22 April 2026 13:00 - 14:00

Explore how your charity can tackle health misinformation and rebuild trust with this free online session with Full Fact

The landscape of health information has never been more complex or more contested. From local measles outbreaks among unvaccinated children to the rapid commercialisation of the menopause market, people are navigating a noisy, often contradictory information environment.

At the same time, AI tools are becoming the default starting point for health questions. Instead of turning to trusted public health sources, many people are being directed towards private platforms that feel fast and authoritative but aren’t always accurate or accountable.

Misinformation doesn’t take hold because of one viral post. It spreads through everyday experiences: conflicting headlines, or social feeds full of opinion dressed up as fact. Tackling misinformation one correction at a time is no longer enough.

To help, we’ve brought together a panel of experts, including Full Fact, the UK’s leading independent fact-checking organisation, alongside health misinformation researchers and charities who have developed and piloted practical responses to these challenges.

Together, we’ll explore the shifting landscape of health information: how misinformation takes hold, what’s at stake when it spreads, and what charities can do to build trust and take genuine ownership of health communication in the areas they work on.

What you’ll learn

In this one-hour panel discussion, we’ll explore:

  • How and why health misinformation takes hold
  • What’s at stake for charities and the communities they serve
  • How AI is reshaping where people go for health information
  • Practical responses charities are piloting to counter misinformation
  • How to build trust and long-term credibility, not just reactive corrections

Event details

  • Location: Online
  • Time: 1 hour
  • Price: Free

Who should attend?

This session is ideal for staff working in health charities across communications, campaigns, services and leadership roles. It’s particularly relevant for anyone grappling with misinformation, public trust or complex health narratives in their work.

Meet the speakers

Sara Allison

Head of Content, Macmillan Cancer Support

Sara is Head of Content at Macmillan Cancer Support, leading teams to create trusted, insight‑driven cancer information. With 15+ years’ experience in content strategy and audience‑centric communications, she champions co‑creation and clear, accessible content to combat misinformation and improve health equity.

Steve Nowottny

Editor, Full Fact

Steve Nowottny is the editor of Full Fact, the UK’s independent fact checking charity. Full Fact produces rigorous, independent fact checks of claims from politicians, the media and social media, and from 2023 to 2025 the charity operated a dedicated health misinformation team. Steve was previously senior editor at MoneySavingExpert, and before that was a health journalist himself, as a reporter and eventually editor of the GP magazine Pulse.

Pete Wilton

Media Manager, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

Media relations & communications professional with over 15 years of experience across higher education & government. Author of THE SPECTRUM OF MISINFORMATION newsletter. On a mission to improve science story-telling, combat misinformation, and increase understanding of the communications profession.

More about Full Fact

Full Fact are the UK’s leading independent fact-checking organisation. Their health team investigates and debunks false and misleading claims across media and social platforms.

We’ll also be joined by health misinformation researchers and charities who have developed and tested practical responses to misinformation in real-world settings.

Together, the panel will share insights, lessons and actionable ideas to help your charity respond with confidence and clarity.

Book your place

To secure your place on this course, register today via our Eventbrite page.

Tickets