Press release: NHS Confederation win trade body of the year

06 Jul 2007

The NHS Confederation has been named as 'trade body of the year' in the Public Affairs News Awards 2007.

The Confederation won the prestigious award for its work shaping health policy and championing NHS leaders.

The organisation's winning submission to the award panel stated that through its integrated campaigns, the Confederation has shaped health policy in the following areas:

• Convincing government to change accounting rules, saving members millions of pounds and freeing-up money for patients;
• Framing the agenda on reconfiguration through the controversial 'Why we need fewer beds', campaign using parliament, media and NHS members to change opinion;
• Bringing unions, employers and the government together to deliver practical alternatives to redundancies.

In addition, the NHS Confederation is the only voice defending its members in the face of a sceptical public and often hostile press.

• 89 per cent of its members see its lobbying as effective and fast;
• Three directors are in the Health Service Journal's 50 top influencers in health;
• The Confederation has created innovative networks providing bespoke strategies for PCTs, Foundation Trusts, Mental health and the independent sector, while also providing a strong voice for the NHS as a whole.

Dr Gill Morgan, chief executive of the NHS Confederation which represents over 90 per cent of NHS organisations, said:

"The NHS Confederation has always strived to be an independent voice speaking out on behalf of NHS organisations, and lobbying for change, in the media and at Westminster.

"I am absolutely delighted that the NHS Confederation's work on behalf of our members has been recognised in this prestigious awards ceremony.

"This is the result of the hard work of all Confederation staff, but particularly our public affairs team led by Sarah Jones."

ENDS

Notes for editors

The NHS Confederation represents more than 90% of the organisations that make up the NHS. Its members include the majority of NHS acute trusts, ambulance trusts, foundation trusts, mental health trusts, primary care trusts, special health authorities and strategic health authorities in England; trusts and local health boards in Wales; and health and social service trusts and boards in Northern Ireland.

Contact details

Contact Media Relations Manager Joanna Clason on 020 7074 3306 or 07798 571078.

For out of hours media enquiries, please call the Duty Press Officer on 07880 500726.

Back to media centre