Bristol NHS Group merger plans

Bristol NHS Group is taking the next step in its journey to improve care for people across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.

Since the formation of Bristol NHS Group in April 2025, guided by our Group Clinical Strategy, our clinical services have increasingly worked as single teams, demonstrating the benefits of collaboration, shared learning and unified leadership. Now the two Trusts are proposing to become a single, merged organisation, with a target date of 1 July 2026.

With 28,000 staff and a combined turnover of over £2.2 billion, the proposed merger creates an exciting future that brings together the best of both organisations. Delivering better outcomes for our patients, more opportunities for our people, fairer care for our communities, and best value for the public purse.

One organisation, many strengths

Becoming a single organisation will make it easier to provide the high quality, equitable care we strive to deliver. It will:

• reduce variation in waiting times
• improve access to specialist services
• ensure patients experience smoother, more coordinated care

Early work through our Group Clinical Strategy has already shown the benefits of working in partnership. For example, cardiology services have reduced waiting times by operating as one team across the Group.

The merger also strengthens our ability to invest in the future, including modern digital systems, research and innovation, and the shift towards more preventative, community based care. It supports the ambitions of the NHS 10 Year Plan, with a strong focus on prevention, early intervention and tackling health inequalities.

The Four Ps

Building on the strong foundations of Bristol NHS Group, exploring a merger is therefore both clinically led and patient focused. It is designed to remove remaining structural barriers and deliver improvements to care and services at greater scale and pace.

These improvements will be delivered across what we call our 'Four Ps':

• faster more equitable access to safer care for our patients, with improved outcomes for all. 
• greater opportunities for our people, with clearer career pathways, stronger wellbeing and leadership support, and a shared culture built on belonging and collaboration.
• fairer, more consistent care for our population, with services closer to home and a renewed focus on prevention. 
• a more sustainable NHS that can reinvest savings from reduced duplication back into frontline care, delivering best value for the public purse.

Next steps

The proposal to merge is now going through a formal national assurance process, and is subject to approvals from both Trust Boards, Council of Governors, NHS England and the Secretary of State. Staff, patients and partners will continue to be involved throughout this process.

What remains constant is our commitment to deliver safer, more consistent, equitable care for anyone and everyone that needs it.

Patient involvement

To make sure that our patients and communities have a meaningful voice in shaping the future of local healthcare services, we have established a Community Participation Group (CPG).

The CPG provides independent oversight, advice and input on how patients and the public are involved in the development of services. It aims to be representative of our communities, including Patient and Carer Partners and Governors, and creates opportunities for new voices to be heard.

More information

Bristol NHS Group launches Group Clinical Strategy Update 2026
Community Participation Group
Bristol NHS Group appoints single non-executive director team
NBT and UHBW launch Bristol NHS Group
UHBW and NBT Joint Clinical Strategy