Member forums

Patient safety, risk and clinical outcomes are important factors that need to be included in policymaking decisions. This group enables members with clinical expertise to influence how we engage with government and national policymakers, as well as learn from each other. 

Whilst this group discusses all matters, topics and issues, there is also a regular focus on end of life care. 

Benefits:

• Ensure the clinical voice is included in decision-making.
• Advocate on behalf of clinical leaders.
• Learn from and collaborate with peers.
• Tap into wider improvement opportunities through this group.
• Amplify diverse clinical leaders’ voices, experiences and recommendations in improvement and shaping outcomes.

This group meets on the first Thursday of March, June, September, December from 5–6PM.

Sign-up to receive an invite to the meetings by using this form, or if you would like to know more, please contact us at acutenetwork@nhsconfed.org.

Chatham House advisory group for acute chief executives to form collective action and recommendations on what matters to you, turning conversation to action. 

Benefits:

• A confidential space to collaborate and work collectively on priority areas.
• Work alongside peers to discuss, share and understand challenges, successes and future planning.
• Connect acute vision to wider system context and opportunities to drive policy change.

This forum provides the opportunity for senior leaders to influence national policy, provide input to decision-making as well as learn from their peers. It enables priority areas and concerns for members to be escalated and used to advocate the right changes needed. 

Whilst this group creates the space to discuss all operational timely matters, topics and issues, there is also a regular focus on achieving financial balance. 

Benefits:

• Ensure the operational management voice is included in decision-making.
• Advocate on behalf of operational leaders and shape policy decisions based on what is really happening.
• Learn from and collaborate with peers to share learning and challenges.
• Connect to wider improvement opportunities through this group.

This group meets mid-month on Wednesdays at alternating times (12:30-2pm or 3:30-5pm) every January, April, July, October.

To sign-up, please complete this form. If you’d like to know more, please contact us at acutenetwork@nhsconfed.org.

The NHS Confederation’s ICS Network and The Queen’s Nursing Institute have developed a joint initiative offering ICB Chief Nurses the opportunity to join a network supporting nurse leadership within integrated care systems (ICSs). 

Recognising that these roles require a new type of support, given that systems operate differently from previous NHS organisations, the partnership will work with ICB Chief Nurses to achieve the objectives of strong system leadership, integrating care and tackling inequalities in health. 

Chaired by Lou Patten, NHS Confederation strategic advisor and fellow of the QNI, the ICB Chief Nurses Network aims to offer a confidential, safe space to engage with peers through the development journey of collective leadership, mutual accountability, local and national political management and fostering innovation and improvement, while operating within the principles of subsidiarity. 

Apply to join

A space for integrated care boards (ICBs) chief people officers (CPO) to exchange ideas, share experiences and develop solutions.

For further information and how to join take a look at the NHS Employers website. 

An independent space for ICB directors of primary care to come together to exchange ideas and share experiences, hosted by our Primary Care and ICS Networks.

Contact primarycare@nhsconfed.org

Our national forum for ICB mental health partner members is focused on supporting members to effectively drive the mental health agenda within their allocated systems. 

The forum is a safe space built around peer-learning, with further input from guest speakers on how to understand the workings of ICBs/ICSs.

We will also support members to build strong relationships, advance parity of esteem, and keep up to date with national policies and funding opportunities.

The forum is jointly hosted by the network and the Royal College of Psychiatrists, and is co-chaired by Dr Lade Smith CBE, president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists and Ifti Majid, chair of the NHS Confederation’s Mental Health Network.

For more information please contact mhn@nhsconfed.org.

This quarterly forum is for all non-executive directors within integrated care boards. To find out more contact Helen Wolstenholme. 

A dedicated network for integrated care board primary care partners. 

Contact primarycare@nhsconfed.org

An independent space for integrated care partnership chairs to exchange ideas, develop solutions and shape policy development.

To join, please email Ian Perrin

An independent space for ICS chairs to exchange ideas, share experiences and develop solutions.

To join, please email Sarah Walter

The first dedicated network for integrated care system communications and engagement leaders.

To join, please contact Sarah Miller.

An independent space for ICS chief executive officers to exchange ideas, share experiences and develop solutions.

To join, please email Sarah Walter

An independent space for ICS mental health programme directors and leads to exchange ideas, share experiences and develop solutions.

To join, please email Chris Truscott

A quarterly forum for systems to collaborate with national and local public health teams, run jointly by the NHS Confederation, the Local Government Association, and the Association of Directors of Public Health. For more information contact office.icsnetwork@nhsconfed.org

An independent space for ICS strategy directors to exchange ideas, share experiences and develop solutions.

To join, please email Ian Perrin.

This group facilitates learning, sharing and opportunities around international NHS activity and ambitions. It also brings the NHS voice to relevant international planning and policy; and to identify and address key barriers to international engagement.

Find out more about the group. To join, please email us.

The Lay Members Network is the national membership network for CCG governing body lay members. It offers access to and support from lay members across the country. The forum provides a unique opportunity for CCG lay members to share the experiences and challenges of their crucial role in CCG governing bodies and local best practice approaches in a safe space. It also gives lay members a national voice to influence relevant policy development as well as supporting the professional development of lay members.

To join, please email us

A space for mental health housing service providers and others interested in this area to strengthen their independent, collective voice in the national policy debate.

To join, please email our Mental Health Network.

Aimed at those working in clinical commissioning groups with an interest in mental health, our Mental Health Commissioners Network explores the commissioning of adult and children and young people’s mental health, including urgent and emergency care. The network also covers the commissioning of services for people with learning disabilities and autism. 

To join, please email our Mental Health Network.

A place for discussion, sharing of experience and practice, peer support and engaging with national leaders and policy makers for chairs of NHS Mental Health Trusts.

To join, please email our Mental Health Network.

A place for discussion, sharing of experience and practice, peer support and a stronger and clearer voice for mental health medical executive level leaders.

To join, please email our Mental Health Network.

A forum for lead ambulance commissioners, but also covers the commissioning of NHS 111 and patient transport services. The NACN offers a national voice, influencing upwards (to policymakers) and laterally (to other urgent and emergency care stakeholders); peer-to-peer support for those working in what can be seen as a rather niche area of commissioning; a safe space for CCG ambulance commissioners to talk openly about issues and concerns; and the opportunity to share good practice (and safely share less successful initiatives) to develop consistently better outcomes for patients.

To join, please email us

This forum provides a direct connection with civil servants from the No. 10 Delivery Unit on current health policy matters and provides members with the opportunity to provide feedback, insight and suggestions on a wide range of topics. 

Benefits:

• Shape national health policy.
• Connect with national decision-makers to ensure the voice of acute members is acted on.
• Collaborate with peers and share experiences and concerns.

This forum meets quarterly and provides primary care network managers with the opportunity to discuss relevant issues, network with peers and share learning and best practice.

To join, please email primarycare@nhsconfed.org

Our Place Forum supports the development of place-based integrated care.

Find out more.

Recognising the rise in shared leadership models we, together with the NHS Providers and The Value Circle, are launching a new forum to offer chairs a space for mutual learning and expert advice on the governance and leadership of boards in trusts which pursue this path.

Our new quarterly virtual forum will provide a dedicated space for discussion, problem solving, and shared learning among peers navigating, or exploring, this evolving leadership model within the NHS.

This is a free forum for members of the NHS Confederation and NHS Providers and it is designed for chairs primarily currently in shared board leadership now, or those considering doing so.

If you would like to join, please complete this form. If you would like to know more, please contact us at acutenetwork@nhsconfed.org.

You can find out all about our Strategic Commissioning Forum and sign up to take part, on our new strategic commissioning web page. 

Our System Productivity Forum is open to members across the NHS Confederation with an interest in productivity to explore shared challenges, develop solutions and influence national policy-making.

To find out more or to join the forum, email Skeena Williamson

For community pharmacy to thrive, we believe it must be more deeply integrated into primary care, neighbourhood teams, and broader system-level models. To support this transformation, we have established a Community Pharmacy Leaders Forum to equip and enable leaders in England to influence system-level decisions and neighbourhood health models, and to foster a culture of collaboration.

Members will gain opportunities to influence national policy, contribute to neighbourhood health strategies, and build their leadership capacity for influencing change.

Chaired by Amit Patel, chief executive of Community Pharmacy South West London, the group is made up of solutions-focused, forward-thinking clinical and non-clinical community pharmacy leaders. It will:

• Influence national policy and advocacy, ensuring community pharmacy leaders have a strong voice in implementation of Neighbourhood Health.
• Provide leadership development and peer support to strengthen influence at neighbourhood and system levels.
• Align community pharmacy with system transformation efforts, ensuring its role is embedded within evolving models of care.

Membership is open to community pharmacy leaders (clinical and non-clinical), both NHS Confederation members and non-members. Non-member organisations must join the NHS Confederation by 1 April 2026 to continue their membership of the forum.

Find out more and express your interest by emailing primarycare@nhsconfed.org