That is why we are giving a stronger voice to local staff partnership forums and why we are asking NHS boards to carry out a major overhaul of their area professional advisory committees.As part of the new accountability review process, NHS boards will be required to demonstrate that they have involved the relevant professional committees appropriately in strategic and service development issues.In addition, we intend to strengthen the role of nurses and midwives in policy development by establishing a new national Nursing and Midwifery Forum, details of which will be discussed with the main professional, academic and staff representative bodies.