We worked with Rushcliffe Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) for a number of years, after they decided to supplement the communications support they received from their regional commissioning support unit with the services of other local communications specialists.
As the CCG – a commissioner of NHS services in Nottinghamshire at the time – didn’t have an in-house communications team of its own, we were asked to both augment the support of the regional team and provide an enhanced level of service.
Delivering work with minimal client input
The senior team approached us about a number of projects where we could take on responsibility for delivering the work with minimal input from them:
- To help boost local awareness of the CCG’s role and the NHS services it commissioned, we provided communications and marketing support on a number of projects including a rebrand, several award entries, and a photoshoot to create a library of stock images.
- We created and delivered a communications plan for the CCG’s district-wide patient survey on the future of the NHS, with the dual aims of encouraging participation and sharing the feedback received.
- We then developed communications including press releases and web updates to publicise a number of new services designed by the CCG in response to the survey feedback, including a pilot which saw GPs offering appointments over the weekend. We worked alongside the regional support team in the delivery of this and other projects.
- We researched, wrote, proofread and designed the CCG’s annual reports for three consecutive years. We also suggested – and then produced – a summary version of each, reducing the reports to around 24 pages of accessible information for the public.
Thanks to our flexible working arrangements and professional experience within the NHS we offered the ideal solution to the CCG, which didn’t have, or want, an in-house team, but simply wanted to extend the support already available.