• New strategy for 2024-2029 sets out our vision to improve care and transform lives
• Five key ambitions developed in collaboration with our communities and staff to guide what is delivered
• Future plans include introducing artificial intelligence and increasing access to research trials

Bolton NHS Foundation Trust has launched a new five-year strategy that sets out our vision to improve care and transform lives for communities across Bolton.

Five key ambitions have been developed using the knowledge, experience and ambition of colleagues, based on what matters to local people, to help guide what is delivered by 2029.

These ambitions are:

• Improving care, transforming lives
• A great place to work
• A high performing, productive organisation
• An organisation that’s fit for the future
• A positive partner

Local communities collaborated with the Trust to share what they want from local NHS services in the next five years, which included being able to access care when they need to, to be treated with compassion and respect, and to have to choice about how they receive care.

Fiona Noden, Chief Executive at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, said:

Our strategy for 2024-2029 sets out our vision for the future, and the work that will be delivered to make it a reality over the next five years.

“We know that for some, life is not easy with the cost of living on the rise, life expectancy in Bolton being lower than the England average and health outcomes differing greatly depending on your postcode.

“Our strategy demonstrates our commitment to addressing the challenges we face by improving our care and transforming the lives of our local population, through the delivery of our five core ambitions.

Bolton’s population is growing and changing, with the number of people living in the town around 300,000 people in 2024 and is predicted to rise by 55,000 by 2029, increasing demand on NHS services.

Figures also reveal that 56% of the population live in areas that are amongst the most deprived in the country.

To help address these challenges, the Trust will focus attention on providing the highest quality of care and organising how services are delivered, against a backdrop of making savings and being financially sustainable.

Niruban Ratnarajah, Chair at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, said:

To be able to achieve this and consistently provide the high quality care our communities deserve, we know that we need to push boundaries by embracing technology, research and innovation to transform health and care.

“This will only be possible by creating the right conditions for our staff to be able to learn, develop and have long and fulfilling careers with us.

A great place to work

One of the key ambitions focuses on being a great place to work by investing in staff and supporting them to develop their skills so they are able to provide the best care.

With Bolton NHS Foundation Trust being the largest employer in the town, objectives have been developed to make sure the workforce reflects the whole population and that people who work for the organisation feel a sense of belonging.

Fulfilling career opportunities for the town’s diverse communities will continue to be a priority, working with local education partners to enhance training and development opportunities and to create equitable access to healthcare jobs.

Building on success

During the past five years, the Trust faced one of the greatest health challenges in a generation as the COVID-19 pandemic gripped the world.

Despite that, successes were still achieved for the benefit of local communities and staff, including:

• Opening four new theatres and a community diagnostic centre (CDC) following national investment in the estate.
• Delivering against recovery targets to eliminate the longest waits for our care.
• Becoming an exemplar site for the recruitment of international nurses.
• Working in partnership with the University of Bolton to develop a medical learning facility on the hospital site.
• The Trust’s Chief Executive was appointed as Place-Based lead for Bolton to continue to lead on health integration.

Over the next five years the Trust will use it’s five ambitions to continue to improve care and deliver high-quality services, by:

• Evaluating the areas where innovation has the potential to improve access, experience and outcomes, such as robotic surgery to reduce complications and improve surgical recovery time.
• Introducing the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and robotic process automation to free-up time and support decision-making.
• Increasing access to research trials, so that more people can benefit from innovative therapies.
• Valuing the voices and experiences of staff by ensuring they feel they can shape change, provide feedback and most importantly speak up.
• Working with local partners to identify and reduce the barriers people experience in accessing services, to deliver equitable access to care.
• Ensuring patients and service users have the data and tools to manage their own records, bookings, and ensuring they have access to information to support their health and wellbeing.
• Continuously improving our understanding of the local population and communities, and building local services that are responsive to need.

To read the new Trust strategy for 2024-2029, please visit Bolton NHS Foundation Trust’s website.