Using Slido at NHS ConfedExpo

If you'd like to include live polls, word clouds, quizzes, or Q&A in your session, we use Slido to make this happen. This guide walks you through the setup - it should take around 15 minutes.

You don't need to have used Slido before. If you run into problems, contact sessions@thenhsalliance.org and we'll help you get set up.

How it works

We have a single Slido event for NHS ConfedExpo, organised by location at Manchester Central. You'll be given access to all locations, and you will need to select your location, where you can create your polls and interactions. You'll then add those into your PowerPoint master deck before sending it to us.

On the day, our AV team will run your slides. When the slideshow reaches a Slido slide, the poll or Q&A will launch automatically on screen and your audience can participate from their phones. No switching, no second screens - it all runs from within your deck.

Step 1: Accept your Slido invitation

You'll receive a link from us to join the NHS ConfedExpo 2026 Slido event as a co-host. Click the link and either log in with an existing Slido account or create a new one - it's free and takes a minute.

Once you've accepted, you'll have access to the ConfedExpo event and the room for your session's location.

Step 2: Create your interactions on slido.com

Go to slido.com and log in. You should see the NHS ConfedExpo 2026 event. Select it, then select the room that matches your session's physical location. If you're unsure which room your session is taking place in, you can look this up either on Lineup Ninja or on the conference programme page: agenda.nhsconfedexpo.org

From here, create whatever interactions you'd like to use in your session. Your options include:

• Multiple choice polls - great for gauging opinion or testing knowledge
• Word clouds - useful for capturing themes or priorities from the audience
• Open text questions - for free-text responses
• Rating polls - for scaled feedback
• Q&A - lets the audience submit and upvote questions
• Quizzes - if you want a competitive element

Important: Other session leads in the same room will also be creating their interactions here. Please name every interaction clearly so that you can identify this when adding it to your slides. This helps everyone identify which interactions belong to which session. Please do not edit or delete any interactions that aren't yours.

Step 3: Add your interactions to your PowerPoint deck

Once you've created your interactions on slido.com, you need to add them into your master slide deck.

If you don't already have the Slido add-in for PowerPoint:

1. Go to slido.com/powerpoint-polling
2. Download and install the add-in (available for Windows and macOS)
3. You should see a green Slido button appear in your PowerPoint ribbon

To add your interactions to your slides:

1. Open your master deck in PowerPoint
2. Click the Slido button in the ribbon
3. Log in with the same account you used in Step 1
4. Select the NHS ConfedExpo 2026 event (not any other Slido event you may have)
5. Select the room that matches your session location
6. You'll see the interactions you created in Step 2 - click on each one to add it to your deck. It will be inserted as a new slide after whichever slide you currently have selected
7. Position your Slido slides in the deck wherever you want them to appear during your session
8. Save the deck

Make sure you select the NHS ConfedExpo 2026 event, not a Slido from your own organisation. If you're connected to the wrong event, your interactions won't work on the day.

Step 4: Send us your deck

Send your completed master deck (with Slido slides included) to us by the deadline in the usual way. Our AV team will take it from there.

You don't need to do anything else on the day - our AV operators will log in to the same Slido event on the presenting laptop, and your interactions will activate automatically as they advance through the slides.

Quick checklist

[ ] Accepted the Slido co-host invitation

[ ] Created interactions on slido.com, clearly named with your session title/code

[ ] Installed the Slido PowerPoint add-in

[ ] Added interactions to your master deck, selecting the correct event and room

[ ] Sent the completed deck to the events team by the deadline

FAQs

Do I need a paid Slido account? No. The free account is fine - you're creating interactions within our event, which is on our organisational licence.

Can I edit my interactions after I've added them to the deck? Yes. Any changes you make on slido.com will be reflected in the deck, as long as the deck is still connected to the same event and room. However, once you've sent the deck to us, please let us know if you need to make changes.

What if I can't see the NHS ConfedExpo 2026 event? Make sure you're logged into the same account you used when you accepted the invitation. If it still doesn't appear, contact sessions@thenhsalliance.org

What do delegates need to do to participate? Nothing in advance. When your Slido slide appears on screen during the session, a QR code and joining code will be displayed. Delegates scan the code or go to slido.com and enter the code on their phone. No app download needed.

I've accidentally edited someone else's interaction - what do I do? Contact sessions@thenhsalliance.org immediately and we'll sort it out. This is why clear naming is important - please only touch interactions that include your session title or code.