At the Health Foundation, we believe that improvement approaches are essential to achieving the NHS’s ambitions for reform in the face of significant challenges. Since establishing the Q community over a decade ago, we’ve proudly supported this vibrant, inclusive network of health and care professionals committed to driving positive change.
Today, we’re excited to share an important development in Q’s journey.
Q’s new home with the NHS Confederation
The Q community now has a new home with the NHS Confederation, the membership organisation that brings together, supports, and speaks for the whole health care system in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Building on their strong existing partnership, the Q community and the NHS Confederation will together champion collaborative, bold, inclusive and purposeful improvement that spans sectors.
Continued support from the Health Foundation
In developing its next five-year strategy, the Health Foundation has carefully considered what it must prioritise to build a healthier UK. Moving the Q community to the NHS Confederation fulfils our original aim of embedding it within the health service. We remain a core partner and have committed funding until 2030.
Evolving activities and expanding reach
Within NHS Confederation, Q will transition from being predominantly grant-funded to working with new partners, delivering commissioned programmes and generating income from sources aligned with its purpose and values. There will be changes to some of the community’s activities, but its mission remains unchanged. It will continue to focus on collaboration, connection and improvement – supporting people to tackle pressing challenges and influence the conditions that enable success.
For more information about these changes and what they mean for Q members, visit the Q community website.
Dr Jennifer Dixon DBE, Chief Executive of the Health Foundation, said:
'Over the past decade the Q community has made a real difference to the reputation and practice of improvement in health care. Ably led by Penny Pereira, our talented and committed team have built a thriving network that’s making a lasting impact to patient care. My sincere thanks to everyone in Q – you have helped shape a movement that is now key to how we think about and deliver improvement. As Q joins the NHS Confederation, its future is bright – poised to extend its reach and deepen its impact across the system.'
Penny Pereira, Managing Director of Q, said:
'Thanks to the long-term support of the Health Foundation and our other partners, we’ve been able to establish Q as a vibrant community working to improve health care across the UK and Ireland. Now, further embedded in the NHS, we are in a strong position to see the Q community’s impact grow at a time when collaborative improvement is needed more than ever. When I look at all the possibilities for Q’s future within the NHS Confederation, I am excited for what we will be able to achieve together. Like many in the health sector, we're also adapting to a new funding model - which means making some choices on the services we can offer. As we change, we will always focus on where we can make the biggest impact in health and care.'
Matthew Taylor, CEO of the NHS Confederation, said:
'I am delighted to be welcoming Q to the NHS Confederation. This is an exciting development for us as we continue to build our leadership and improvement support for our members, who will benefit hugely from Q’s expertise and experience. There has never been a more important time for exactly this type of investment in people and programmes, as we look to help our members deliver the ten-year plan, and support ambitions for health care reform across the UK. We look forward to working closer together to achieve lasting change.'
Privacy notice
Clear information and a data transfer notice will be shared with all Q members before any data is moved. This will include information about what will happen with any data impacted by this change. It will be in line with best practices for the use and processing of data.
To understand more about our data management, you can read the relevant privacy policies and contact the teams below for NHS Confederation, the Health Foundation and the Q community.
- NHS Confed privacy policy
Email: dataprotection@nhsconfed.org - Q privacy policy
Email: q@health.org.uk - Health Foundation privacy policy
Email: dpo@health.org.uk
Please note, Q's transfer to NHS Confederation is subject to final formal approvals.