Member Spotlight: Katie Walker, Bristol & Weston Hospitals Charity

As Chief Executive of Bristol & Weston Hospitals Charity, my role is to lead the charity to deliver our mission: to improve the health and happiness of every patient cared for across 13 NHS hospitals throughout the region.  

Following our recent merger with Southmead Hospital Charity, we’re now the NHS charity partner to the newly formed Bristol NHS Foundation Trust – one of the largest acute trusts in the country – so it’s an incredibly exciting, and busy, time for us!  

Working closely with the Trustee Board and NHS leadership teams, I lead the charity’s strategy, fundraising and day-to-day operations, ensuring every donation delivers maximum impact.  

I’m also passionate about empowering and inspiring our team, so that together we can raise millions to benefit patients across Bristol, Somerset and North Gloucestershire and help bring moments of joy, comfort and hope to those who need it most.

What does a typical day look like?  

I think anyone who works for a charity would tell you there’s really no such thing as a typical day, and that’s one of the reasons I love my job! 

One day I might be working with NHS leadership teams on future priorities, the next celebrating the achievements of our amazing volunteers, or supporting fundraisers as they go the extra mile for our hospitals. 

It’s also important to me to get about and about and visit the hospitals we support and see the difference we’re making to patients and staff. Seeing how our work touches the lives of patients and loved ones is one of the most rewarding parts of my role.

What does your organisation do? Why do you like working for them?

In a nutshell, our aim – with the help of our wonderful supporters – is to transform the experiences patients have in our hospitals across the region.

To do that, we raise money to improve the health and happiness of every patient – whether it’s the small things that make a big difference, or helping to fund cutting-edge equipment and life‑changing treatments.

Having joined forces with Southmead Hospital Charity, we can make every donation go further and have even greater impact, supporting NHS staff to innovate and deliver outstanding care, while ensuring kindness and compassionate care remain at the heart of everything we do.

Most people in Bristol have a connection to our hospitals – whether as a patient, a visitor, or through a loved one who works in the NHS. The support we provide as an NHS charity has a real and lasting impact on everyone who walks through the hospitals’ doors. I couldn’t be prouder to be part of a team that goes above and beyond to make that impact possible.

Why have you joined the Bristol Initiative?  

We’ve built a number of amazing high-impact partnerships with businesses across Bristol, including an award-winning partnership with Deloitte, but there is scope to do so much more.

We're keen to connect with businesses that share our values, are committed to making a positive impact in their local communities, and work alongside us to make a tangible difference for patients, staff and families.

The opportunities for partnership are as diverse as the work we do. Whether supporting a specific patient group, funding innovative projects, piloting new roles, or helping us introduce pioneering equipment and services, we can work together to create a partnership that delivers lasting impact and shared value.

What are the key agendas that you’re looking forward to getting involved with?

As we shape our future priorities, we're focusing on the areas where we can make the greatest impact to health outcomes across our city. Tackling health inequalities is central to this work, from practical initiatives, such as providing free hospital buses, to investing in often overlooked areas of healthcare, including older people's care and dementia services.

We're also committed to improving support for young people as they transition from children's to adult services, as we know this can be a challenging time, with many patients experiencing anxiety and uncertainty.

These priorities align closely with Bristol's One City Plan, which sets out an ambitious vision for 2050: a fair, healthy and sustainable city where everyone can share in its success. By working with partners who are equally committed to improving lives and reducing inequalities, we can help turn that vision into reality for patients, families and communities across Bristol.

Where is your favourite place to visit in Bristol? 
My favourite places to visit usually centre around Bristol’s incredible food scene. At the moment my absolute favourite place is Chandos Road in Redland which is packed with incredible independent restaurants and feels like one of Bristol’s hidden gems.

If you'd like to follow Katie on social media you can do so on Linkedin here, and you can follow and find out more about Bristol & Weston Hospitals Charity too. If you are a member of The Bristol Initiative and would like to be featured in a blog just like this one then you can get in touch with me or Jenny.