New Health Integration Team to improve end of life care

A new Health Integration Team (HIT) was approved by Bristol Health Partners Research & Innovation Steering Group in September 2025. It will be the first new HIT to launch since 2021.

The End of Life Matters HIT will work to improve care for people of all ages as they approach the end of life and to support the communities around them across the South West. Its purpose is to bring people and organisations together to design care that is more joined-up, fair and shaped by what matters most to those who need it.

By listening carefully to people’s experiences, and working side-by-side with communities, the HIT will ensure that these experiences guide decisions and improvements. It will build on research already underway, develop new approaches to improve understanding, and work with communities to turn that learning into better, fairer support.

The HIT will act as a bridge between local communities, the NHS, hospices, social care, universities and charities, creating space for collaboration, innovation and shared learning.

Who’s involved?

Nine of our partner organisations will be involved in the HIT, along with organisations working in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire and across the South West, including hospices, children’s and young people’s services, and local and national charities.

The HIT Leadership team includes four co-directors:

• Dr Sophy Gretton, Consultant in Palliative Medicine, University Hospitals Bristol & Weston NHS Foundation Trust
• Professor Lucy Selman, Professor of Palliative & End of Life Care and Chair of South West Palliative & End of Life Care Research Network, University of Bristol
• Dr Alison Llewellyn, Associate Professor, Clinical Research, and Supportive, Palliative & End of Life Care Research Theme Lead, University of West of England
• Kath Rooksby, Primary and Community Development Senior Manager, NHS England South West

The leadership team will also be appointing a Public Contributor Director soon.

HIT co-director Dr Sophy Gretton says:

“Through the new HIT we will bring people together to create a supportive environment where new ideas can grow, research is encouraged and evidence is used to improve care. We will work across sectors, communities and cultures – not only for people, but with people – so that solutions are developed together.

“By building on evidence and sharing what works, we hope to drive meaningful change and inspire a new, collaborative way of working across health and social care.”