Bristol NHS Group has published its Group Clinical Strategy Update 2026, setting out the next stage of its ambition to transform care for people across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG) and beyond.
The strategy update builds on two years of progress since the Joint Clinical Strategy (2024-27) was launched. During this time, several clinical services that are duplicated across hospitals at North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) have begun working in a new, more joined up way, with shared leadership to drive improvements. Cardiac Services, Trauma & Orthopaedics, Pain, Liaison Psychiatry and Safeguarding are all now operating as Group Clinical Services – building on their combined strengths to improve access, provide more consistent experiences for patients, and to work more efficiently.
At the heart of the strategy update is a clear vision to deliver seamless high‑quality, equitable and sustainable care for everyone by designing services around patients, supporting our people, tackling health inequalities and using public resources wisely.
To help achieve this vision, the Group will focus on three major shifts in how care is delivered, reflected in the NHS 10 Year Health Plan:
- Providing more care closer to home, reducing unnecessary trips to hospital by expanding digital, remote and community‑based options.
- Placing greater emphasis on prevention and early detection, helping people stay well for longer.
- Making better use of digital tools to improve access, support modern ways of working and create a more seamless experience for patients.
Embracing these shifts will deliver meaningful improvements for Bristol NHS Group’s Four Ps:
better outcomes and experience for patients, greater opportunities and clearer processes for our people, improved health for local populations, and better value for the public purse.
To make it easier to deliver these aims and unlock greater benefits, NBT and UHBW are now pursuing a merger, breaking down barriers between the two Trusts.
The strategy update has been shaped with input from partners, patients, the Group’s Community Participation Group, and a range of stakeholders who took part in a Partnership Event last year, focused on reframing and reimagining healthcare services. Their insights have helped ensure the updated plan reflect what really matters to the people they serve.
Maria Kane, Chief Executive of Bristol NHS Group, said:
“This update builds on the momentum from joining up services across our hospitals to date, and I’m incredibly proud of the progress we’ve made so far.
“We know that to make our vision a reality we need to work hand‑in‑hand with our partners and communities. Their insight sits at the heart of this strategy, and their continued involvement will be essential in delivering real and meaningful change.”
Tim Whittlestone, Chief Medical and Innovation Officer at Bristol NHS Group, said:
“This is an opportunity to think differently about how we deliver care.
“Our teams are already showing the power of working as one, and this update sets out how we can go further – bringing care closer to home, focusing on prevention and using digital tools to support modern, accessible services.
"Thank you to everyone who is helping us create a better future for our patients and communities.”
The publication of the Group Clinical Strategy Update 2026 marks an important step in building a more coordinated and future‑focused health system across BNSSG. Over the coming months, teams across Bristol NHS Group will continue working together to bring these ambitions to life and deliver the best possible care for the communities they serve.