David Relph new Director of Bristol Health Partners

David Relph, Head of Strategy and Business Planning at University Hospitals Bristol, has been appointed as the new Director of Bristol Health Partners. He will take up the position in April, for a fixed-term of nine months, alongside his current role. Recruitment of a substantive Director will begin later in the year. The appointment was made by a selection panel made up of Board members, including chair, Andrea Young.

On his successful appointment, David said: “I am delighted to take over the role of Director of Bristol Health Partners and I look forward to building on the great work that Professor Peter Mathieson and many others have done during the first few years of the partnership. There is a huge amount to celebrate in the work of Bristol Health Partners so far, and a huge amount of opportunity in terms of where the partnership goes next. I’m looking forward to working with people across Bristol Health Partners and the city as we shape the partnership’s future direction. My aim is to set out an ambitious and realistic vision for the impact that we have together and to help create the conditions that will help the partnership – and those we serve – to thrive over the next five years.”

Bristol Health Partners’ chair, Andrea Young, said: “David is the ideal candidate to lead Bristol Health Partners through its next stage. He has an impressive track record of strategic leadership within and outside the NHS, and has developed ideas and projects – such as TEDMEDLive in April last year – that have put Bristol on the map. His career demonstrates an exceptional ability to connect people and ideas to achieve ambitious outcomes. These are the skills that Bristol Health Partners need at this important time. 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.”

David takes over from University of Bristol’s Professor Peter Mathieson, who is moving to the University of Hong Kong as Vice-Chancellor.