How are Allied Health Professionals represented at board level in NHS Trusts in the West Midlands?

Purpose Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) are the third largest professional group in the National Health Service (NHS). This qualitative study aimed to establish the representation of AHPs at NHS Trust board level. Design/methodology/approach Examination of public Trust board minutes and Care Quality Commission (CQC) reports from a sample of NHS provider Trusts in the West Midlands. One reviewer extracted data concerning all details pertaining to professional staffing groups. Findings A stark picture of under-representation which is statistically significant emerges. AHP representation to Trust boards via public board meetings was 7% for AHPs, compared to 41% for doctors and 52% for nurses. There were similar results with CQC reports, with the representation of AHPs at 11%, whilst doctors and nurses were significantly higher at 42 and 47%, respectively. Research limitations/implications The data gathered for this paper was from a small number of NHS provider Trusts in the West Midlands of England, which can be considered a limitation of the study. However, the results of this study are stark and provide a compelling snapshot of the significant under-representation of AHPs to those NHS Trust boards included. Practical implications AHPs are a significant staff group within the NHS; their representation at board level is of benefit to the Trust boards both in terms of engaging with staff and in terms of managing quality and risk. Recommendations are made that Trust boards ensure they have a board member with responsibility for AHPs who actively engages with, understands and provides challenge, and that the CQC considers the inclusion of examples of AHP activity and staffing levels in their inspection, and that these are confirmed with senior AHPs in the organisation being inspected. Originality/value This is an original paper and is the first to address the representation of AHPs at Trust board via consideration of board papers and CQC reports, providing a platform for further consideration.