Redefining healthcare

Circle believes that four aspects of the delivery of care need to be fundamentally re-engineered in order to deliver the highest possible quality of integrated care. We call them our "four pillars".

First, the relationships in healthcare need to be redefined. We believe that to re-engineer the system, all those engaged in the delivery of care should be empowered. That is why Circle is co-formed, co-owned and co-run by clinicians. We are now the largest partnership of healthcare professionals in Europe.

Second, we need to redefine the way we operate. Healthcare, like other professional services, should be run from the bottom, up. Ownership and the decision-making process should lie with the professionals who are closest to the patients.

Third, the infrastructure needs to be redefined. We made a strategic judgment that existing facilities were generally unfit for purpose and decided to differentiate our service by reshaping the public's expectation. Our commitment to transforming the patient experience is embodied in our new generation of compact, purpose-built facilities that ensure patients' dignity and comfort.

Fourth, the use of technology in healthcare needs to be redefined. In recent years technology has become ubiquitous in many sectors of our economy. Yet it is still in its infancy in healthcare. Much of this is not about expensive invention, but smart deployment of what already exists.

These aren't simply abstract concepts: each pillar is built on a foundation of innovations - new ways of thinking about healthcare delivery that have affected every one of our hospitals. You'll find several examples of Circle innovation in each section.