1. Developing the CCG’s winter communications plan
Patient workshop

2. NHS winter pressures….
Everyone will be aware of the annual round of headlines describing an NHS in crisis struggling to cope with the additional pressures caused by winter

3. Local winter pressures
Some of the issues at Basildon Hospital last winter:
parents of under 5’s bringing them to hospital to seek reassurance, high levels of paediatric traffic
cold weather had an impact on respiratory conditions and the number of injuries from falls
a big increase in people attending with mental health issues
exacerbations in long-term conditions - people were, on the whole, very unwell by the time they got to hospital – could some of these visits have been prevented by seeking help earlier?
ambulance service under extreme pressure - people not always calling appropriately
a small number of people seeing A&E as a “one stop shop” for their health issue
What other factors could be driving people to A&E?
We are here to think about how communications and engagement can play a role in helping to manage these pressures.
It may be helpful to bear in mind some of the issues reported by Basildon Hospital last winter – not too many surprises but useful to know
In the past, NHS winter communications campaigns focused around reducing inappropriate use of A&E
In recent years, the key issue hasn’t been so much about people using A&E inappropriately – although undoubtedly it still happens to an extent
This list is anecdotal – we don’t know all the factors that are driving people to A&E
Is there anything to add to this from your knowledge and experience?

4. How can communications and engagement help with winter pressures?
Information about services - produce and distribute information to help people to make good choices on which NHS services to use and when to use them
Supporting self-care - help to ensure people are well informed about how to prevent and manage common health issues that can arise over winter
Support patient education – work with health professionals to arm patients with knowledge on looking after their long-term conditions to prevent flare-ups or crises that end up with a hospital admission
Gathering feedback - information from patients and the public can help the NHS respond better to the needs of patients and manage demand on services (A&E survey this winter?)
Across the NHS there is a lot of planning involved in preparing for winter.
Alongside the system-wide operational plans, we also have a communications and engagement plan
For the last two or three years we have had an overarching strategy for the STP area, with each CCG responsible for local implementation
We also pull together a local plan specific to our area
These objectives could form the basis for a local communications and engagement plan
Anything to add to these?

5. How best do we reach people?
Discussion activity
How best do we reach people?
What information do you think would be helpful for patients, and help to reduce pressure on services?
Flu vaccinations?
Information on different services?
Patient education leaflets/booklets/events?
Leaflets and posters? In which locations?
Videos/digital? Eg sound doctor
Media?
Paid advertising?
Face to face activities?
Pack of comms materials
20 minutes for these two questions
Tell us what you think works and what doesn’t – use examples in the pack, or ideas and suggestions of your own
How do we reach people from all sections of the community
Write all feedback on flipchart paper
Feedback session after

6. Where should we focus our resources?
Discussion activity
Where should we focus our resources?
Where can we make the biggest impact to reduce pressure on services?
What role can health professionals and patient reps play to help inform and educate local people and patients over winter?
5-10 mins

7. Budget? How much is reasonable?
Examples of costs:
Leaflet design c£200 - £400
Printing c£500 for 10,000 copies
Bus advertising c£1500 – 2500
Newspaper ad, quarter page, c£500 – 800
Newspaper wrap, £
Door to door leaflet distribution, c£20 per 1000
Social media advertising £?
Radio advertising £
Comms often takes a very low priority for funds often with little or no budget to support comms planning – for understandable reasons
However - how much value does communications add to the NHS winter response?
How much would it save the NHS if the comms messages got through to people?
What do you think would be a reasonable expenditure for comms?