Winner: 'Think which service' winter campaign, NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin

The judges felt this campaign goes to the heart of how the NHS handles winter pressures – helping people get the right help at the right time. A standout submission delivering brilliant savings from a simple yet very effective campaign and messaging through a shift in behaviours. 

 

Highly Commended:

• West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership 
• NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board 
• St George's, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals and Health Group 
• NHS Cheshire and Merseyside

Winner: 'Mother Tongue, Motherhood and Mental Health' West London NHS Trust

This was an excellent campaign to address a serious problem. This series of videos, targeted at women aged 18-44, was an effective way of engaging and communicating with diverse users. It demonstrated an impact that could potentially save lives, raising awareness of this specialist support service. 

 

Highly Commended:

• 'This is Me' campaign by North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust

Sponsor: The NHS Race and Health Observatory

Winner: 'Hypertension, going further and faster' NHS Derby and Derbyshire Integrated Care Board

The judges felt this was a well-organised and considered campaign and an example of good partnership working, with positive and clear outcomes with longevity. The campaign had good engagement and research work that acted as a strong foundation to support the campaign’s success.

Highly Commended: 

• Urgent mental health crisis care services campaign, Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Sponsor: Tandem Comms

Winner: Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust

The judges agreed that the CHFT team had developed a creative, insight-led campaign that delivered on lowering vacancies. This is a different approach to using video on socials which really gets the message across in a unique way, creating the emotional hook that is required, with good evidence of meeting the brief which has expanded to other areas of the trust. Well done for going with this brave approach.
 

Winner: London Ambulance Service NHS Trust

At London ambulance service, the judges felt their work was engaging and creative, resulting in recruiting more staff. A strong strategy implemented in a conscious way that yields results. LAS have created content across a range of platforms which is absolutely astonishing. Good to see the data and insight too. Storytellers with calculators. That’s a winning mix.

 

Highly Commended:

• Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust

Sponsor: Touch Design

Winner: Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 

The judges’ comments on this entry were -  in one word - 'wow!' This is an incredibly strong entry. Very well thought through internal comms plan for a very specific issue - moving to a new site. The challenge is clear and, frankly, daunting. However, the IC team's approach was creative and comprehensive. The supporting evidence really brought it to life and demonstrated the breadth and creativity of the campaign.

 

Highly Commended: 

• London Ambulance Service

Sponsor: NHS Employers

Winner: The playground SOS Appeal, Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust 

The judging panel thought the Playground SOS was a fantastic campaign using a fabulous emotive story told through video and pictures, and through the eyes of young patients . The campaign involved excellent engagement with media partners, the full range of communications channels and celebrity endorsement, and it went on to exceed fundraising targets.
 

Winner: The Serenity Appeal, Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals Charity

The Serenity Appeal was a very clear and compassionate campaign for an incredibly important issue. I especially liked how the campaign materials were gentle and respectful of the horrifying situation in which parents who need these services find themselves.  The campaign exceeded its fundraising targets, and has positioned the charity for future growth.

 

Highly Commended:

• Leeds Hospitals Charity 

Sponsor: NHS Charities Together 

Winner: Stockport staff menopause awareness, Stockport NHS Foundation Trust

The consensus among the panel was a 'well done' for launching such a focused campaign on the menopause with clear evidence of evaluation of the campaign impact. Given the workforce is mainly women, they felt it was a really important subject which secured high engagement and changes in the workplace, for example a network, fans and lighter uniforms. The range of activities was impressive, with sponsorship by a senior leader in the trust.

 

Highly Commended:

• Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust

Sponsor: Stand

Winner: Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

The judges were impressed by the strategic input from the board into the communications and engagement agenda, with the chief communications officer portfolio demonstrating how communications can influence performance and productivity. They said it was great to see how the profession is evolving to move beyond PR and reputation and this entry demonstrates how research and analytical thinking can really enable us to impact our organisation in new, positive ways. 

And for Milton Keynes University Hospital the panel concluded that this was a very strong entry that shows how a well-resourced and well backed communications team can really deliver. A committed and comprehensive approach to communications is delivering real benefits for the board of this trust.

Winner: Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

The panel concluded that Milton Keynes was a very strong entry that showed how a well-resourced and well-backed communications team can really deliver. A committed and comprehensive approach to communications is delivering real benefits for the board of this trust.

 

Highly Commended:

• South West London Integrated Care Board

Winner: Eleanor Barraclough, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust

The judges felt it was clear Eleanor is a natural comms talent. She demonstrated skill and insight in building a relationship between communications and the trusts' emergency department, and developed new and supportive channels that work for clinical teams, while understanding the communications needs of patients as well.

Highly commended :

• Melissa Taylor, Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust