David Relph appointed as Bristol Health Partners Director on a permanent basis

David Relph, who has been working as Bristol Health
Partners’ Director since April 2014, has been appointed to the post on a
permanent basis. David has been working in the post on a part time basis, while
continuing with his job as Head of Strategy and Business Planning at University
Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust (UH Bristol). The appointment was made by a selection panel
made up of Bristol Health Partners Board members, including the Chair, Andrea
Young.

On his successful appointment, David said: “I am
delighted to have been appointed as Director on a permanent basis. Over the
last 18 months I have sought to develop and share a
new strategic direction for the partnership, building on the fantastic work
already done by my predecessor Peter Mathieson. As the
work of the Health Integration Teams has continued to develop, and in some
cases break though to national profile, I have got out and about in the city and
region that we serve, developing my understanding of the potential of the
partnership. My strong sense is that we
are building a record of innovation, collaboration and engagement in and around
Bristol in a way that feels new, exciting and – from a national perspective –
unusual. It is an honour to be able to
continue with this work and I’m looking forward to some exciting times ahead.”

Bristol Health Partners chair, Andrea Young, said: “It
is great news for Bristol Health Partners that David is now the permanent
Director. In the last 18 months he’s
demonstrated a great understanding of what the partnership needs to succeed,
and Bristol Health Partners is now reaching out to new audiences on an unprecedented
scale, through events like Bristol’s first Festival of Health and hosting
visits from the Department of Health and other health partnerships around the
country. We have become more confident in talking about our work and ambition,
and have had a great response as a result. We are now developing major work
programmes on the better use of data, the workforce of the future and
sustainability. The Board are also keen to strengthen support for the Health Integration
Teams and will be putting additional arrangements in place to ensure good pace
across their whole agenda. I speak on
behalf of the Board in congratulating David on his successful appointment, and
we all look forward to working with him on the challenges and opportunities
ahead.”