The Social Partnership Forum was originally set up in March 1998 following the NHS recognising the need for and positive contribution partnership working could and can make to improving care services for patients through the more active involvement of employees in the entire decision-making process.
In creating a continual dialogue, rather than issues being dealt with after they arise, they become part of that process, with policy being determined and shaped by the people who would be most affected by it.
The NHS has long been of the view that partnership working needed to be at the heart of delivering an improved service and the publication of the revised partnership agreement in March 2007 reinvigorated social partnership working nationally.
The Forum was refreshed and renewed in February 2007.