The Area Partnership Forum (APF) has existed in a number of forms since 1999 and provides staff, through their Trades Unions and professional organisations, with a forum to influence the work of the NHS Board and directors.
The APF is jointly chaired by the Employee Director and the Chief Executive, who are members of Ayrshire and Arran NHS Board. This ensures that staff views have a direct route into the work of the NHS Board and that the Trades Unions and professional organisations have a similar voice.
The NHS APF is populated by representatives of staff organisations recognised by the Staff Council, and directors representing all of the areas of service delivery both clinical and non-clinical who all work together on a partnership basis to support the organisation in moving forward.
The Trades Unions represented at the APF are:
- Federation of Clinical Scientists
- British Association of Occupational Therapists
- British Dental Association
- British Dietetic Association
- British and Irish Orthoptic Society
- British Medical Association
- Community District Nursing Association
- The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy
- GMB
- Royal College of Midwives
- Royal College of Nursing
- The Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists
- The Society of Radiographers
- UNISON
- UNITE