Who we are
We are the independent membership body that represents and supports the health and care system in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
We represent, strengthen and support providers and commissioners of NHS care so that the NHS performs at its best and improves patient care across the UK – representing frontline reality to government, shaping policy and building capability. We work across the whole NHS as well as within its individual sectors.
What we do
With a membership base across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, we use our collective strength to transform how the health and care system works at a time when leaders are facing unprecedented pressure.
In England, our members include NHS trusts, integrated care boards, voluntary and independent providers, and primary care providers.
We:
- Provide a strong, influential voice
- Build leadership capability and accelerate improvement
- Convene leaders
- Cultivate relationships beyond the NHS
- Deliver insights that inform better decisions
We focus on finding solutions and shaping policy on the issues the matter most to members. This includes:
- NHS reform
- System architecture
- Population health
- Quality and performance
- Finance and productivity
- Regulation
- Workforce and leadership
- Digital, data and innovation
We are proud to host a range of organisations at the forefront of change in health and care:
- Association of Groups
- NHS Race and Health Observatory
- Understanding Patient Data
- University Hospitals Association
- Q
NHS Employers, the employers’ organisation for the NHS in England, is also part of The NHS Alliance.
We are also home to HealthCommsPlus, a creative communications agency, and Horizon Leeds, an award-winning conference and meeting space in the heart of Leeds city centre.
Our leadership
Meet the executive team
- Matthew Taylor, Interim Chief Executive
- Sir Ciarán Devane, Incoming Chief Executive
- Sarah Walter, Deputy Chief Executive and Director, ICB Network
- Joan Saddler OBE, Director of Partnerships and Equality, NHS Confederation
- Daniel Reynolds, Director of Communications
- Dr Layla McCay, Director of Policy, Improvement and Leadership, NHS Confederation
- Marie Pritchard, Director of People and Governance
- Nikki Barraclough, Director of Finance and IT
- John O’Brien, Commercial Director
- Rory Deighton, Director, Acute Network
- Ruth Rankine, Director, Primary Care Network
- Rebecca Gray, Director, Mental Health Network
- Heather Moorhead, Director, Northern Ireland Confederation for Health and Social Care
- Darren Hughes, Director, Welsh NHS Confederation
Our board
Meet our trustees
- Lord Victor Adebowale - Chair
- Sir Terence Stephenson - Vice-Chair
- Peta Foxall - Senior Independent Trustee
- Paul Davies - Independent Trustee and Chair of Finance and Operations Committee
- Nanda Ratnavel - Independent Trustee and Chair of Audit and Risk Committee
- Valerie Morton - Independent Trustee and Chair of Remuneration Committee
- Emma Woollett - Independent Trustee and Chair of Subsidiary Board
- Andy Hardy (University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) NHS Trust)
- Richard Mitchell (University Hospitals of Leicester NHS)
- Mary Elford (Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust)
- Matthew Bryant (Dorst County Hospital and Dorset Healthcare)
- Chris Oliver (Lancs and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust)
- Karen Taylor (Herts Partnership University Foundation Trust)
- Sharon Mays (Sheffield Health Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust)
- Selina Ullah (Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust)
- Richard Henderson (East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust)
- Elliot Howard-Jones (Herts Community NHS Trust)
- Joe Harrison - NHS Employers' nominated trustee
- Pramit Patel - PCN Network's nominated trustee
- Foluke Ajay - Acute Network's nominated trustee
- Jonathan Morgan - Wales NHS Confederation nominated trustee
- Jonathan Patton - NICON nominated trustee
- Kathy McLean - ICS Network's nominated trustee
- Buki Adeyemo - Mental Health Network's nominated trustee