“Hard though it may be to believe, this week marks one year since we launched Bristol NHS Group, uniting NBT and UHBW behind a single shared vision and a Joint Clinical Strategy.

“Over the past year, we have seen what is possible when two high-achieving organisations work together with a shared purpose. From the outset, our ambition has been clear: to improve care for our Patients, create more opportunity for our People, support the health of our Population, and make the best possible use of the Public Purse — our Four Ps.

“This anniversary gives us a moment to reflect on the progress we have made as a Group, especially at a time of such change in the NHS, as we move towards joining together as one of the largest acute providers in the country this summer.

“We’ve achieved many great things together over the past 12 months — too many to list here. However, a few highlights for me include:

• Forming a single Executive and Group Board and hosting our first joint public and annual meeting and health fair.
• Launching our first five Group Clinical Services — Cardiology, Trauma and Orthopaedics, Pain, Safeguarding and Liaison Psychiatry — with plans in place for 40 in total.
• Establishing a new Community Participation Group to ensure a diverse range of community voices are heard as we continue to shape future hospital services.
• Joining forces with our local communities in new and exciting ways, including working with Bristol Rovers Football Club to launch the John Green Campaign, delivering free health checks, flu awareness activities and CPR training for young people.
• Investing over £130 million in capital improvements across our Group, including opening The Princess Royal Surgical Centre as an integrated, Group-level facility.
• Continuing to build the profile of our Group and the outstanding work of our staff with local, regional and national partners and stakeholders.

“Above all, what stands out most is the commitment, skill and compassion of our people. None of this progress would have been possible without colleagues across NBT and UHBW working together, often under intense pressure, to keep improving services for patients and communities.

“As we mark one year of the Bristol NHS Group, I want to thank all those who have been involved in the development of the Group so far. I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved together in one year, and even more excited about what comes next.

“We are already seeing what can be achieved when our teams bring together their expertise, capacity and ambition in the service of patients, and I am excited for what comes next as we get closer to realising the incredible opportunities that lie ahead.”