The NHS
The NHS is being encouraged to market its services and it is
already behaving like the private sector in the choice of marketing
tools it chooses. At both Strategic Health Authority and
Primary Care Trust level the NHS has to engage patients, public,
staff and local authority partners to develop the implementation
plans set out in Lord Darzi’s Next Steps. To this effect we are
increasingly witnessing PCTs adopting communication tools which we
traditionally use to attract consumers. Websites are
compulsory, patient-led testimonials are essential for strong
newspaper editorial, social marketing delivers effective
preventative healthcare campaigns and brochures have to demonstrate
stronger design, look attractive and be aspirational as well as
deliver the relevant information.
Within the NHS, Merchant has worked for PCTs, mental health
trusts, acute trusts and ambulance trusts. For each trust, we have
undertaken to learn more about its specific business, audiences,
marketing challenges, objectives and targets. This continual
learning gives us our knowledge and means we have a very solid and
ever-increasing understanding of the NHS and its marketing needs.
This makes us immediately efficient and cost effective in working
for you as an extension of your own communications department.
Our specific NHS experience includes:
- Marketing consultancy
- Reputation management
- Public health promotion
- Social marketing
- Engagement and consultation activity
- Foundation Trust membership recruitment and engagement
campaigns
- Website design, development and build
- Development of marketing material targeting commissioners
View some of our recent work with the NHS: