The Shelford Group
The Shelford Group is a collaboration between ten of the largest teaching and research NHS hospital trusts in England.
These ten NHS trusts provide a comprehensive range of services from community care for local populations, to highly specialised care for patients nationwide. Together they account for over £19 billion of the NHS budget, have over 20 million contacts with patients per year, employ over 180,000 staff and account for almost two thirds of the country’s clinical research infrastructure.
Our work is co-ordinated by a central secretariat, and delivered through sub-groups of executive directors and professional leads from member trusts. We have three modes of operating, through which we aim to create value for members and the wider health system: mutual learning, policy development and system leadership.
Group Members
Find out more about our group members below.
Our Work
The Shelford Group is led by the ten member chief executives and the managing director who set the strategic direction and policy priorities for the Group. Together they work with policy makers to inform health and social care policy – linking national leaders with the frontline NHS.
The Shelford Surgical Training in Advanced Robotic Technology (START) programme
The Shelford START programme provides the opportunity for surgical trainees to develop their skills, knowledge and expertise in robotic assisted surgery, across multiple platforms, at an earlier stage in their career. It is currently is being piloted in the North East, North West and East of England, with plans for expansion to additional regions and specialties in future years
Latest News
Shelford Group annual 2025/26 report published
We’ve this week published our 2025/26 Shelford Group Impact Report, which sets out Shelford’s achievements over the last year. Last year’s 10 Year Health Plan established ambitious goals for the...
How are Shelford Trusts working to reduce missed appointments?
Ellie Carter, Shelford Deputy Managing Director, writes about the work Shelford Group members are doing to reduce the number of missed appointments across the NHS. In June 2025, the Shelford Group...
Shelford Group joins UK health leaders in promise to reverse the ‘alarming decline’ in clinical academic posts
Shelford Group Managing Director David Furness has joined more than 40 prominent figures across the UK health sector committing to reverse the ‘alarming decline’ in clinical academic posts,...
Contact us
General enquiries: info@shelfordgroup.org (Central Shelford secretariat team)
Media enquiries: Natalie Hudson (Head of Communications) on 07814439932 or natalie@shelfordgroup.org