We are applying to become an NHS Foundation Trust as it will allow us to involve our staff, patients, carers and the public much more in how our services and facilities should be provided Our Trust has one of the broadest ranges of specialities and we employ nearly 9,000 staff We have also strengthened our research portfolio over the last year, with around 500 staff involved in 400 separate research projects across the Trust The aims to provide care closer to patients' homes through a network of community hospitals and facilities; provide the best possible acute health care by bringing together specialist acute hospital services at the Bristol Royal Infirmary and the Southmead site; and significantly improve the environment and safety in which our patients receive care The majority of our work is the provision of all hospital based medical and surgical services to the local population of North Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset and maternity and paediatric services for a local population of approximately 500,000