NHS Confederation

NHS Confederation logo

The NHS Confederation is an independent membership organisation in the United Kingdom that represents all types of providers and commissioners of National Health Service (NHS) services in England. It is the only body to speak for the whole of the NHS on the issues that matter to all those involved in healthcare. It also reflects the diversity of views held by those concerned with different parts of the healthcare system. It is also the only body that brings together the full range of organisations that make up the modern NHS to help improve the health of patients and the public.

Aims

The NHS Confederation works to:

• influence healthcare policy and provide a strong voice for healthcare leaders on issues of shared concern
• help its members and those working in healthcare to make sense of the whole health and social care system
• bring people together from across health and social care to tackle the issues that matter most to its members, patients and the public.

Support functions

The NHS Confederation also provides a number of industry-wide support functions for the NHS including:

• the NHS Employers organisation that works to represent trusts in England on workforce issues
• the NHS European Office that promotes the priorities and interests of the NHS to European Institutions and provides information and advice to NHS trusts on relevant European Union developments
• the Service Delivery and Organisation Network and the Health Services Research Network that help NHS trusts to access and engage with health services research.

Aspects

Networks

The NHS Confederation also has a range of specialist networks that provide products and services tailored to meet the needs of the different parts of the healthcare system. These include:

• Ambulance Service Network
• Primary Care Trust Network
• Mental Health Network
• NHS Partners Network

Associate membership

It has Associate members who are commercial and third sector organisations involved in the delivery of healthcare and an Insight information service for academic and representative bodies with an interest in health and the healthcare sector.

Wales, Northern Ireland, and Scotland

The Welsh NHS Confederation and the Northern Ireland Confederation for Health and Social Care support members in their countries and there is a subscription service for NHS organisations in Scotland.

Officers

The Chief Executive of the NHS Confederation is Mike Farrar, formerly chief executive of North West Strategic Health Authority,. The current chairman is Sir Keith Pearson.

Annual conference

The NHS Confederation holds an annual conference, attended primarily by senior leaders in NHS organisations.

The conference programme contains a mixture of high profile and influential speakers, thought provoking strand sessions, interactive workshops and a range of networking opportunities. In 2011 the conference will be held on 6 – 8 July in Manchester. Speakers include: Secretary of State for Health Andrew Lansley MP, Camila Batmanghelidjh, John M Neill CBE, Chief Executive of the NHS David Nicolson and NHS Confederation Director of policy Nigel Edwards. Bookings are now open. Sponsorship and exhibitor opportunites www.nhsconfed.org/2011.

Publications

The NHS Confederation produces regular reports and consultations on key health care issues including the recent Health white paper. Other reports cover topics including commissioning, mental health, personnel health budgets and the NHS operating framework. It produces an annual guide to the NHS called the NHS Handbook

External links

• NHS Confederation website
• Annual conference website
• NHS Confederation events and seminars
• NHS Confederation reports
• NHS Employers
  • Leading workforce thinking 2011 NHS Employers annual conference & exhibition