The NHS Confederation and NHS Providers, which merged in January, have announced that, from April 2026, they will be known as The NHS Alliance.
The merger brings the two established national bodies together to strengthen the collective influence, insight and support for NHS trusts, primary care, integrated care boards and independent and voluntary sector providers.
Sir Ciarán Devane, currently chair of the Health Service Executive (HSE) in Ireland, will be the inaugural chief executive of The NHS Alliance.
The new entity will represent and support the health system across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Their members employ 1.5 million staff, care for more than 1 million patients a day, and control £150 billion of public expenditure.
Lord Victor Adebowale, chair of the NHS Confederation and NHS Providers (and soon-to-be inaugural chair of The NHS Alliance), said, “As the NHS Confederation and NHS Providers, we have not come together to be bigger: we have come together to be braver, more influential and to provide greater support to our members.
“Our members told us clearly and consistently that the NHS needs a stronger and more unified voice, which can be used to speak with authority across the whole system. That is what I am determined The NHS Alliance will be.
“We will aim to provide outstanding support and value for money for our members, while bringing the collective weight of our membership in pursuit of a higher-performing NHS and healthier nation.
“The NHS needs collective leadership right now and I am excited by what The NHS Alliance will deliver for all parts of the health and care system.”
