Bristol NHS Group opens doors to tech providers to inspire staff, in flagship Elevate showcase

Health and social care staff from two NHS trusts and the wider BNSSG integrated care system will engage with tech companies on 13 May, as Bristol NHS Group advances its digital strategy and looks to take forward the 10 Year Health Plan.

Bristol NHS Group’s Local Health Tech Showcase is the latest in a new series of digital engagement events known as Elevate, which bring relevant health tech directly to NHS organisations, allowing trusts to engage their workforce in the art of the possible.

The event will take place on the doorstep of health and care staff in Bristol, at BAWA Health & Leisure. Designed to be as flexible as possible, staff can come for the day or drop in for an hour.

With the programme now being finalised and space limited, technology suppliers are encouraged to request a place soon to be considered for participation.

The Bristol event will bring together major tech companies, niche innovators, and staff from Bristol NHS Group, as well as colleagues from university partners and the wider Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board.

An unmissable day of expert-led discussions will take place against the backdrop of a market hall, with hands-on demonstrations showcasing the latest digital innovations that can tackle real-world challenges in health and social care, and transform the experience of staff and patients.

Neil Darvill, group chief digital information officer at Bristol NHS Group, said: “This digital inspiration event comes at an important moment for Bristol NHS Group, which brings together North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW).

“We have a clear clinical strategy and an ambition to deliver services that are clinically led, digitally-enabled, and focused on the best possible care for patients.

“By giving people the chance to explore what technology is available, this showcase will help us understand what’s possible as we support our staff and deliver the shifts set out in the 10 Year Health Plan.”

The newly formed Bristol NHS Group is deploying a new digital strategy, focused on refreshing infrastructure, building on electronic patient record and e-prescribing, consolidating systems, and improving how staff interact with technology day to day.

The group and its ICS partners are seeking innovation to drive productivity, modernise workflows, transform patient communications, and strengthen community and prevention services.

Leah Parry, chief clinical information officer, nursing, midwifery and allied health professionals at Bristol NHS Group, said: “We are at a pivotal position with our digital strategy.

“There is a huge opportunity that comes with forming a group to say: ‘This is what we really need’ – but to do that, we need to know what is out there.

“If we were running this event even two years ago, the types of things that we would be showcasing would be massively different, because there has been such an explosion of development over that time.

“So, we want suppliers to come and show us things that we don’t necessarily know about.

“We also need staff to see those solutions, the technology, the devices, and to get excited about the IT. Then we can play those narratives back into our conversations about how we’re planning and prioritising what we need to do to deliver better care.”

The Elevate model has already been proven by a pilot at University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust. More than 500 NHS employees – from the chair and chief executive to frontline teams – engaged with vendors, and discussions are already feeding into the trust’s digital strategy and generating opportunities.

Highland CEO Mark Venables said: “When we launched Elevate, we said we wanted to change the way that suppliers access the NHS, and the way that NHS staff access the terrific technology that we know is available to them.

“We are confident that Bristol’s event will achieve these aims, and further demonstrate the value of this new model of NHS-supplier engagement.

“With just over a month to go, we can feel anticipation building, and we’d encourage vendors who feel they have relevant solutions to request a place now as we finalise the agenda.”

The early impact of Elevate, as a means to engage staff in digital, has sparked excitement with NHS organisations in different parts of the country. At least 10 NHS providers are planning events in 2026.

Technology suppliers interested in showcasing their innovations to NHS leaders and health and social care professionals in Bristol can request their place on Highland’s website.

Health and social care staff wishing to attend the event on 13 May can register on the event registration page.