Merging the East and West Midlands SPFs
Overview
The East and West Midlands SPFs are taking part in a six-month trial merger, meeting as a combined Midlands SPF until December 2024.
The move was proposed following the SPF national and regional co-chairs meeting in June, when the East and West Midlands SPF co-chairs identified an alignment between the two forums’ priorities, and saw an opportunity to work together.
A decision was made to run a trial merger until the end of 2024, creating a larger, stronger forum with a broader membership base. The decision was backed by employers and staff side colleagues across both regions.
Potential benefits
The merger hopes to better meet the region's priorities, through achieving the following benefits:
- A larger, stronger forum with greater reach and ability to influence local and regional workforces.
- A larger pool of ideas and expertise to draw upon.
- Alignment to NHS England (NHSE) geography, reducing meeting duplication for NHSE colleagues.
- The potential to attract more external speakers.
How the trial will work
The Midlands SPF was established in June and will meet again in September and November.
There will continue to be separate staff side pre-meetings for East Midlands and West Midlands colleagues to ensure issues and discussions can be raised by both regions in a balanced way, while taking advantage of the synergies and similarities across the two regions.
The Midlands SPF co-chairs include representation from both regions:
- Rob Simcox – Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (East Midlands)
- Ali Keogan – Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust (West Midlands)
- David Limer – UNISON (East Midlands)
- David Kirwan – Royal College of Nursing (East Midlands)
- Mel Sutton – British Medical Association (West Midlands)
- Nina Hambleton – Royal College of Nursing (West Midlands)
The co-chairs believe the merger will provide greater opportunity to work together on the issues that matter most to NHS staff. They are keen to collaborate and learn from each other, listening to a more diverse range of views and sharing best practice.
The co-chairs will review the trial merger in December, taking feedback from members across both regions to agree an approach for 2025.
