North West
Find out more about the North West SPF
The North West (NW) SPF comprises employers, trade unions, and the NHS Employers' engagement team.
Priorities for 2026/27
- Working in partnership to navigate and support the regional workforce in relation to impacts from architectural changes and headcount reductions at local, regional and national level.
- Exploring the implications of the 10 Year Health Plan for addressing health inequalities across the North West, including the role of employers as anchor institutions and identifying practical workforce interventions to improve population health outcomes.
- Staff health and wellbeing, focusing on flexible working, anti-racism, disability and violence prevention/reduction.
- Supporting and retaining a diverse NHS workforce.
Achievements for 2025/26
- A successful North SPF Conference 2025 focused on exploring good practice and partnership working to support health and wellbeing for NHS staff in the North.
- Developed partnership working principles as a NW SPF in response to the NHS system workforce changes.
- Celebrated and recognised the winner of the 2026 HPMA Partnership Working Award for the initiative ‘Boosting Wellbeing and Attendance in Partnership’ from the North West region.
Meet the team
- Staff side co-chair - Amy Barringer, Regional Organiser, UNISON.
- Management side co-chair - Mike Gibney, Chief People Officer, Cheshire and Merseyside Health and Care Partnership.
Terms of reference
Read the North West SPF terms of reference.
