NHS Providers and NHS Confederation went on to confirm their plans to merge, thereby paving the way for a new organization that will represent frontline NHS organizations throughout the healthcare system from April 2026.
Both the organizations have conducted quite prominent engagement with members by way of spanning NHS trusts, primary care providers, integrated care boards, and voluntary sector providers with the crystal-clear view that a single membership body when it comes to the NHS should be established. Apparently, 85% of around 400 chief executives along with other members in executive-level positions that were surveyed went on to express this view; however, only 5% disagreed.
The news of the Boards of Trustees of NHS Providers and NHS Confederation having agreed to the decision to merge has indeed caught the headlines; however, it is indeed subject to there being no material issues that may emerge from the due diligence. This also goes on to confirm plans for a single membership body to go ahead and represent NHS organizations throughout England, Wales, and Northern Ireland in a more effective way.
The idea behind this move is to enhance the NHS and the health of the people across the UK as the independent membership body offering an influential voice when it comes to the NHS leaders and also supporting its members to drive enhancement.
It is well to be noted that a new membership offer is going to be launched in March 2026 and will begin on 1 April.
Meanwhile, a transition committee drawing from the trustees all throughout both the present boards is going to be set up before the final board gets established. A new leadership as well as staffing structure is going to be put in place by the end of March 2026, which would also include an external recruitment process as far as the new chief executive is concerned. These steps are going to make sure that the new organization is completely equipped to go ahead and represent its members in its newest form come April 2026. There is going to be a review of brand identity so as to reflect that the new organization is also underway.
The chair of the NHS Confederation, Lord Victor Adebowale, along with Professor Sir Terence Stephenson, who happens to be the chair of NHS Providers, said that their members have been very loud and clear that they would want to have one clear voice when it comes to the NHS to represent and also support them to enhance care on behalf of the local communities. Coming together into one membership body is sure going to help them to do that in a much more effective way.
They opined that this is indeed quite a challenging time for the NHS as well as their members. However, they do believe that this step is sure to help them better represent as well as support the overall NHS in order to foster partnership and also support learning throughout all the parts of the system so as to deliver higher quality care and also better value for patients, the taxpayers, and of course the public.
They added that they are now going to work at pace so as to deliver the renewed organization that their members are seeking to have.