Health sector communications has never been under more pressure. We say it every year – and it’s true every year.
Budget squeezes, the context of junior doctors on strike and at odds with the Health Secretary and the need to put that well worn phrase of ‘doing more with less’ into practice mean that health sector communicators have a challenging time.
But still, most of the British public hugely value the NHS and the support it delivers to all of our families.
And, anyway, you might argue (I hope not, given you are reading this, but you might), why does the NHS need all these PR people and spin doctors – it should be employing more doctors and nurses and making people better not wasting time telling people how good it is.
Fair enough in some ways. I don’t think any of our team has ever participated in or performed a life-saving six-hour surgery. That is truly incredible and awe-inspiring stuff. But, what we do, and what thousands of NHS comms staff around the country do is playing its part in saving lives.
Engaging the public on healthcare issues or to help signpost them to the best healthcare provider to meet their needs doesn’t just happen by magic.
Health comms is important. It can be hard work and challenging but it can really be life and death stuff. That is why we’re slightly chuffed to have been listed on the NHS North of England’s Commercial Procurement Collaborative’s multi-disciplinary framework to provide comms and other services to the NHS.
There’s some good company to keep as well – the North of England CSU and Deloittes are two of the other providers listed on the framework.
So, next time you see a clever and creative health care campaign or initaitive that grabs your attention, just tip your metaphorical hat to the comms team or agency that helped create it – they do their bit when it comes to saving lives too.