Advancing Presence Through Stories: A Visit to the Presence Foundation

On 9 June 2026, our delegation of six academics returned to the Presence Foundation in Utrecht for a day dedicated to exploring quality of care, narrative learning, and relational accountability. The programme provided a rich opportunity to examine how stories can be used not only to reflect on practice but also to demonstrate the value and impact of compassionate, person-centred care.

The morning commenced with an inspiring presentation by Dr Guus Timmerman, who introduced the concept of “Quality of Care and Narrative-Relational Accountability”. Rather than relying solely on quantitative indicators to evaluate healthcare, Dr Timmerman illustrated how carefully explored narratives enable healthcare teams to make visible the complexity, ethical considerations, and relational dimensions of everyday practice. The presentation highlighted that authentic stories from healthcare teams provide meaningful insight into decision-making, professional judgement, and the quality of care experienced by patients.

The discussions reinforced an important principle of Narrative-Relational Accountability: meaningful accountability arises through collective reflection on team experiences, recognising that quality care is shaped by relationships, shared decision-making, and the unique context of each patient's journey.

The programme continued with Dr Elley Beurskens, who further explored practical applications of presence and relational care within healthcare settings. Her session stimulated thoughtful discussion on creating spaces for meaningful dialogue, strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration, and maintaining compassionate presence within increasingly complex healthcare environments.

Following Dr Elley’s Beursken’s presentation, Dr Kathleen Froneman presented "Enhancing Healthcare through the DREAM Guideline", illustrating how healthcare professionals can intentionally cultivate a sense of presence to enhance the quality of patient care, build meaningful therapeutic relationships, and foster nurturing healthcare environments. The presentation resonated strongly with the Presence Foundation's narrative-relational approach, highlighting how reflection, storytelling, and authentic engagement deepen professional growth, strengthen compassionate practice, and ultimately improve the quality of care.

The day concluded with an engaging session led by Prof Andries Baart, founder of the Theory of Presence. His presentation focused on presence and its nuances, exploring the subtle yet profound qualities that underpin authentic, relation-centred care. Through insightful discussion, Prof Baart highlighted that presence is what is good to do and who do you want me to be for you. The session encouraged participants to reflect on how presence can be intentionally nurtured in nursing practice, education, and healthcare organisations, while reinforcing the strong alignment between the work of the Presence Foundation and the South African delegation's research on presence.

The visit reinforced that stories are far more than reflections on past experiences—they are powerful tools for learning, accountability, and transforming healthcare practice. By sharing narratives that capture the complexity of care, healthcare professionals can deepen their understanding of presence, strengthen team learning, and make visible the often-unseen relational work that lies at the heart of compassionate care.

We extend our sincere appreciation to Dr Guus Timmerman, Prof Andries Baart, Dr Elley Beurskens, at the Presence Foundation for their warm hospitality, inspiring discussions, and generous sharing of expertise. The visit further strengthened the partnership between our institutions and reaffirmed our shared commitment to advancing presence-informed healthcare through international collaboration.