Who we are and what we do

We are one of the largest NHS hospital trusts in the UK. More than 28,000 staff care for over 1.5 million people each year. We provide care 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

We work across 13 hospital sites and several community locations, including:

• Bristol Dental Hospital
• Bristol Eye Hospital
• Bristol Haematology and Oncology Centre
• Bristol Heart Institute
• Bristol Royal Hospital for Children
• Bristol Royal Infirmary
• Central Health Clinic
• Cossham Hospital
• Frenchay
• South Bristol Community Hospital
• Southmead Hospital
• St Michael’s Hospital
• Weston General Hospital

Specialist care for the region

In addition to local hospital care, we provide a wide range of specialist services for people across the South West and from all over the country.

Our specialist services include major trauma, children’s services, neurosciences, burns and plastics, stroke and thrombectomy, cardiology, cancer care, haematology, ophthalmology, cardiothoracic care, nephrology, immunology, infectious diseases and HIV, sexual health, transplant services, and obstetric medicine.

We are also a research and teaching trust. We work closely with the Universities of Bristol, Bath and the West of England to support research, innovation and education, and to improve care for patients now and in the future.

Working with patients, communities and partners

We want people and communities to help shape the care we provide.

We work with patients, carers, communities, staff, voluntary organisations, and health and care partners to understand what matters most. This helps us improve services, reduce health inequalities, and make better decisions about the future of care.

Our Community Participation Group (CPG), partnership events, and wider engagement work help us listen to different experiences and involve people in decisions that affect them.

Become a member and get involved

You can become a member of the trust to find out more about our work and have your say. Members receive updates, hear about our plans, and can take part in opportunities to help shape what we do. It is a simple way to stay connected and help us understand what matters most to patients, staff and local communities.

Our members also elect our council of governors. Governors are an important link between the trust and the people we serve. They listen to members and the public, ask questions, and help make sure the trust is open and accountable. They also hold our non-executive directors to account for how the board is working.

Become a member and find out more about our council of governors.

Our plans for the future

The NHS is changing. People are living longer and often need more complex care. To meet this challenge, we need to make better use of technology, data, and community support than ever.

Guided by our Clinical Strategy and the NHS 10 Year Health Plan, we are working to:

• improve access to care
• reduce differences in quality and outcomes
• support people to stay well for longer
• provide more joined-up services
• make the best use of NHS resources

Our principles: the 4Ps

Our work is guided by four key principles, known as the 4Ps:

1. patients – give the best care and experience
2. people – support our staff to do their best
3. population – improve health and reduce inequalities
4. public purse – use money and resources responsibly

These principles guide how we make decisions and improve services.

Our people

Our staff are at the heart of everything we do.

Every day, our teams provide care with skill, kindness, and dedication. This includes doctors, nurses, midwives, therapists, scientists, pharmacists, porters, cleaners, office staff, estates teams, volunteers, and many others.

We want BFT to be a place where people can build a career, feel supported, and make a difference.

Find out more about working with us.