Overview
Applications for the 2026 HOPE European Exchange programme are open until 31st October, 2025
The HOPE European Exchange programme is a unique and exciting opportunity to understand the challenges of a healthcare system outside the UK. The benefits are personal, as well as professional, as it leads to seeing your role and the NHS in a whole new light.
Firstly, HOPE stands for Hospitals of EurOPE. The exchange programme offers those with managerial responsibilities across the healthcare system a unique opportunity to exchange time with another EU member state for four weeks, followed by an international meeting for all participants. Organisations and colleagues across the NHS who meet the eligibility criteria are welcome to apply.
The Programme has an intake every year, with applications during September/October, places being confirmed during December, then the 4 week exchange programme commencing the following May.
The 2026 Exchange Programme will run commence on Sunday 3rd May and conclude with a 2-day Conference on Friday 29th May & Saturday 30th May in Lisbon, Portugal. The theme of the 2026 programme is “Patient Safety and the Patient Experience”.
In his blog, Des Carter, Transformation programme manager at King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, shares reflections on his experience of the programme.
“The programme offered numerous opportunities to challenge myself and pick up different insights and innovations into the delivery of healthcare in another country.”
HR business partner,
Central North West London NHS Foundation Trust
Eligibility
Individual participants
The HOPE Exchange Programme is a multi-professional programme open to clinical and non-clinical healthcare managers with a minimum of three years’ experience in a NHS management role. You will be working in hospitals or healthcare facilities, and have proficiency in the language that is accepted by the host country.
If you are considering it for yourself or recommending it to a colleague, participants must be available for the full 4 week period – for the exchange itself, the international conference during the final weekend of the period and all programmes arranged by your local host organisation.
While you may not have to speak the native language, you must have proficiency in a language that is accepted by your host country; many countries accept English. A proficiency guide is available with your application pack.
There are some costs associated with joining the HOPE Programme. Firstly, there is a joining fee payable to HOPE of €450. This covers all administration of the Programme, and your accommodation and attendance at the end of Programme Conference (the Agora). You are also responsible for your travel from the UK to your host, from there to the Agora, and back to the UK. Your host will provide you with free accommodation for the duration of your exchange, and free or subsidised meals during the working day. You are responsible for your living costs at other times, and any activities you wish to do in your free time. Your employer may be able to cover some of the costs of your travel and/or living costs, please speak to your Line Manger or HR&OD team for clarity on your organisations rules and processes.
Host organisations
UK Hosting organisations are usually NHS Trust/Foundation Trusts and we welcome applications from all organisation types. You should be interested in sharing your expertise with international colleagues and engaging with them to share best practice from their home countries. Ideally, the organisation will be able to host two participants from the EU and will have a dedicated local coordinator available to support them throughout their exchange.
Read the below experience of a UK Hosting organisation and how they have benefitted from taking part in the HOPE Exchange Programme over several years:
“It’s a great opportunity to network and share ideas and good practice across Europe. The programme helps us look at our services from a different perspective and think about what could be done differently to drive improvements in patient care.
So far, our Trust has sent two participants to Finland and Spain to help them broaden their horizons and see how other healthcare services function. We have also enjoyed hosting participants in both clinical and non-clinical roles from Malta, Spain, Serbia, Slovenia, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Portugal. Meeting the variety of professionals benefits our staff who can ask questions and find out how what we do here compares to the healthcare services abroad.
What’s really important is the ever-expanding network of professionals to ensure an ongoing exchange of ideas to help individuals meet their objectives and improve healthcare services across Europe.”
Structure
The HOPE European Exchange programme offers the opportunity for healthcare managers – either in clinical or non-clinical roles – to visit another country and to exchange ideas and experiences with healthcare professionals, as well experience a different culture and healthcare system. You’ll spend time exploring areas of interest to you, as well as exploring the main topic set by HOPE which changes each year.
Approximately 200 participants take part in the exchange programme over 4 weeks and across 30 countries. It culminates in an international conference which brings together participants as well as other healthcare professionals to explore the exchange’s theme and share best practice.
Participants applying from the UK
Participants are usually placed in pairs with a local host and, where possible, will be placed with a healthcare professional from another country providing a further national perspective to their programme. You’ll understand the structure of a healthcare system that’s a world apart from the NHS and, by agreeing on specific areas of interest with your line manager, your organisation benefits too.
Each receiving country structures the exchange in a way that best works for them, so you might be placed with one organisation for the duration of the exchange, or you might move around between a few. Regardless, you’ll be sure to gain fantastic experience and learn a lot!
Host organisations in the UK
Hosting organisations will usually receive two or three participants from different professional backgrounds and countries, so as well as discussing your own services, you can also benefit by hearing first-hand about different systems and thinking from the EU participants.
You will work with the National Coordinator as well as the participants themselves to develop a local programme that will allow them to immerse themselves in your organisation while exploring the year’s theme and their own specific interests.
The exchange is between countries, not between organisations, so it isn’t necessary to both host and send participants however to maximise the impact of the exchange we would encourage you to consider it.
Benefits for participants and host organisations include:
- An injection of fresh perspectives, ideas and innovations and encouragement to look at your services with a fresh pair of eyes
- Learning how best practices from other countries can be applied or adapted in your organisation
- Participants can highlight areas of strength that may be going unnoticed or underappreciated, boosting morale and engagement
- Increased collaboration, meaning smoother delivery of care across the system (so less waste and more efficient use of resources)
- Staff expand their professional networks, fostering the exchange of ideas and best practices beyond the exchange period.
Apply
Applications for the 2026 HOPE European Exchange programme are open until 31st October, 2025. For more information and to request an application pack email england.hope-exchange@nhs.net
Further details on the HOPE Exchange Programme, including copies of presentations from previous years conferences can be found on the HOPE website.