Health and Social Care

Communications Focus: Lanarkshire

June 30, 2015 by Linda White No Comments | Category Uncategorized

A Proactive, Targeted and Innovative Approach to Communications in Lanarkshire

What does a Johnny Cash tribute act, a rapid response team taking hospital-level care to people’s own homes and a 94-year-old adventurer have in common?

They’re all part of recent integration communications in the vibrant North and South Lanarkshire partnerships.

A major tranche of our strategy is focussed on proactive communications.

And that brings me in regular contact with fascinating folk like John Stalker, a well-kent local musician, who is living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

John’s still able to live at home – and belt out the Cash classics – thanks to an innovative telehealth project linking him to specialist NHS Lanarkshire nurses, on hand to offer specialist support via text.

John had 11 hospital admissions last year due to his condition. Since joining the telehealth initiative in January, he’s only been admitted once.

The third sector are key partners and we also recently received really strong coverage of Lillis Oldham’s tale. Lillis is a remarkable 94 year old who’s travelled to the furthest reaches of earth. She’s keeping in the pink by taking part in a walking programme.

Meanwhile, our Hospital at Home team – which is expanding across Lanarkshire – continue to court national and international interest including a VIP visit.

Whilst we’re working hard to keep the good work of our partnerships high up the media agenda, internal communications are an absolute priority just now.

We’re using a variety of channels including dedicated integration newsletters in North and South Lanarkshire. The latest editions offer an easy-to-follow guide on the ‘next steps’ of integration, with a focus on the respective strategic commissioning plans.

As we prepare to enter the crucial phase of engagement around these plans, I’ve been working very closely with engagement colleagues in both partnerships mapping out how to optimise that process through targeted, innovative communications. We’ve had our creative thinking caps on so keep your eye on our web pages for some exciting developments in coming months!

Meanwhile, at NHS Lanarkshire (where I’m line managed) we’ve recently implemented an advanced communications evaluation system so we can measure, in even more detail, everything we do.

As one colleague put it, ‘we don’t want to have a great landing at the wrong airport’ so we’re endeavouring to make sure communications are directed to a specific destination.

That measured approach is also about gauging feeling on the ground and good, old fashioned face-to-face contact allows us to tailor communications accordingly.

That’s especially important at such a time of change and I’m lucky in that, on a daily basis, I’m embedded with frontline staff in my hot-desking travels.

Crucially, I’m also working across all our partnerships’ excellent communications teams, including NHS Lanarkshire, North and South Lanarkshire Councils’.

We’re talking all the time, sharing ideas, experiences, resources, tackling challenges and embracing opportunities – together.

I suppose that’s integration in a nutshell.

Euan has also worked in close partnership with Scottish Government Communications, to produce a series of films on integrated working in Lanarkshire, based on local press releases. These films have since been shown to national and international audiences.

These include:

John’s story: https://vimeo.com/97323984

Matt’s story: https://vimeo.com/108130294

You’re Hired: https://vimeo.com/125063523

Staff focus: https://vimeo.com/125080081

Contact: Euan.Duguid@lanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk

Tags: Communications, Health and Social Care Integration, Health and Social Care Partnerships, Lanarkshire, North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire

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