Bristol hosts New Zealand health leaders as part of international study tour

Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board (ICB) recently welcomed 16 health leaders from New Zealand’s Collaborative Aotearoa as part of an international study tour.

The visit, which took place on Friday 19 May, was an opportunity to share learning focused on integrated care systems.

The New Zealand delegation, made up of indigenous leaders, chief executives and GPs, have also visited Canada and London, with their final stop planned for Belgium. Learning from the visit will support in the re-design of primary and community care systems and achieving their vision of ‘Hauora’ – health and wellbeing for all New Zealanders.

The Bristol visit was a chance to bring together a range of local partners to showcase projects, including:

• How the local system is approaching population health management
• Experiences of the Woodspring Locality Partnership in bringing together organisations and communities to deliver services locally
• Work to increase vaccination uptake during the Covid-19 pandemic
• Improvements to how urgent care is delivered in a more integrated, joined-up way across organisations
• The development of community connector roles in the South Bristol locality.

Shane Devlin, Chief Executive of Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire ICB, said:

“It’s been an honour to host our New Zealand colleagues and I’d like to thank them for taking the time to visit us as part of their busy study tour.

“We are always open to sharing our learning as we develop new ways of working in BNSSG. While we may not have all of the answers, discussion and collaboration – both locally and internationally – is key to how we innovate and ultimately improve our services for people.”

Chief Executive of Collaborative Aotearoa and co-host of the study tour, Amarjit Maxwell, said:

“Our study tour represents multiple sectors, including primary health care, local government, and community organisations. This supports the deep collaboration we’re building to achieve health equity. The shared learning gained will support the transformation that is expected across primary and community care in Aotearoa as part of our Pae Ora Healthy Futures Legislation.”

Irihāpeti Mahuika, Chair of Collaborative Aotearoa and co-host of the study tour said:

“Te Ara Ako is the name of our study tour and it is unique in that we have strong indigenous leaders standing in partnership with our non-Māori leaders from across community and primary care in Aotearoa, New Zealand. As well as learning from our hosts across Alberta, Ontario, and the UK, we also have our own richness to share which our generous hosts are very interested in, and our delegations are representing with pride and mana”.