Bristol NHS Group and Highland bring health tech innovation directly to health and social care staff across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire

Bristol NHS Group, in partnership with Highland, has successfully hosted its first Local Health Tech Showcase, bringing health and social care staff from across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG) together with leading technology suppliers to explore how digital innovation can support frontline services and improve patient care.

Held at BAWA Health & Leisure, the event welcomed more than 250 attendees, who engaged directly with 40 exhibitors, showcasing a wide range of digital and physical solutions designed to address the real-world challenges faced by the NHS and its workforce.

The event was opened by a keynote from Maria Kane, Chief Executive of Bristol NHS Group, who reflected on the critical role of digital technology in making care easier to navigate, closer to home, and more consistent for patients. She emphasised that digital innovation is most effective when developed and adopted in partnership, helping organisations work together to deliver more joined-up care.

Maria shared how the Group is already using innovation to tackle major challenges within the NHS. These include reducing health inequalities and removing duplication across services, helping to deliver more seamless care for patients.

Neil Darvill, Chief Digital Information Officer of Bristol NHS Group, provided an update on the Group’s emerging Digital Strategy and how it supports the delivery of value across the “4 Ps”: Our Patients, Our People, Our Population and the Public Purse.

James Freed, Deputy Director of NHS Digital Academy also delivered a keynote, highlighting evidence of a strong relationship between staff satisfaction with digital systems and better patient safety outcomes. James emphasised that success depends not only on the technology, but on how well people are supported to use it.

Featured as part of the event was the Market Hall areas, where attendees were encouraged to meet and receive demonstrations from the 40 exhibitors sharing how their tech, both digital and physical, could enhance patient safety and high-quality clinical care.

The showcase was the first of its kind to be held in the region, and saw Bristol NHS Group become one of the first NHS organisations to host an Elevate event, a new programme launched by Highland to bring health tech directly to the NHS.

Mark Venables, CEO of Highland, said: “Bristol NHS Group has shown there is a growing appetite in the NHS, and in the health tech community, to inspire NHS staff at all levels in the art-of-the-possible.

“It was fantastic to see so many health and social care professionals come together, in a venue right on their doorstep, with suppliers of technology solutions which can address real challenges in their work.

“I’m grateful to senior executives, digital teams, and frontline staff in the NHS for participating, and to the innovators who engaged on ways to digitally empower them.”

Kathryn Kaboutian, Deputy Chief Digital Information Officer of Bristol NHS Group, who hosted the event, said: “I was incredibly proud to host this event, bringing together colleagues, partners, and suppliers with a shared focus on improving care for patients and our population.

“What really stood out was that successful digital transformation isn’t something digital teams can deliver on their own – it starts with patients at the centre and involves clinical, operational, and digital colleagues working together, which is why it was so encouraging to see so many people from across BNSSG taking part.

“Throughout the day there was a real range of conversations and learning – it was great to hear different experiences and see suppliers showcasing solutions that could help address real challenges and ultimately enhance patient care.

“Looking across the range of suppliers in the room, and the sheer breadth of innovation on display, it was difficult to think of an area of our organisation where there wasn’t technology being developed to support, improve, or rethink the way we deliver care and services, not just in clinical areas, to benefit patients.

“Events like this create the space for connection, idea-sharing, and honest conversations about what could make a difference in practice. That energy, curiosity, and willingness to learn is exactly what helps turn good ideas into meaningful improvements for our people, our patients, and our population.”