Health minister announces partnership fund

Health minister Ann Keen has announced the setting up of a new fund to promote and develop partnership working between employers and trades unions.

Named The Partnership Fund, the launch is set to see businesses and industry campaign groups in the NHS given a chance to bid for support to help develop local partnership working.

It is hoped the fund could also be used in a number of ways, such as joint training sessions and workshops, which could see all parties develop local agreements to plan how to work together and have a positive effect.

Ms Keen said: “I want staff to feel supported and actively engaged in the organisation in which they work.”

She added: “This partnership approach will improve the quality of service that we offer our patients and ensure that workforce implications are considered.”

Karen Jennings, Unison head of health and staff side chair of the social partnership forum added that the joining should bring benefits, with staff receiving improved working and conditions and practises and patients set to receive an improvement in care.

Joint acting director at NHS Employers, Alastair Henderson, added the organisation is “delighted” with today’s announcement, adding that the NHS workforce’s engagement and involvement is crucial.