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Engaging with and Informing the Public in Wales

Engaging with and Informing the Public in Wales. Susan Mably Director of Health and Environment 17 th October 2007. Overview. The role of the Wales Centre for Health in respect of communication with the Public Approaches and reflections Building for the Future. Context.

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Engaging with and Informing the Public in Wales

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  1. Engaging with and Informing the Public in Wales Susan Mably Director of Health and Environment 17th October 2007

  2. Overview • The role of the Wales Centre for Health in respect of communication with the Public • Approaches and reflections • Building for the Future

  3. Context The functions of the Wales Centre for Health (as defined in the Health (Wales) Act 2003) can be Summarised as: • to develop and maintain arrangements for making information about matters related to the protection and improvement of health available to the public in Wales • to undertake and commission research into such matters - to contribute to the development and provision of training

  4. Approaches • Media • Websites/Networks/Newsletters • Publications • Events/ Conferences • Specific Projects- e.g. Community Health Information Project • “Hot Topics”

  5. What are “Hot Topics”? • Free format to be reactive to current issues • Flexible approach • Use of a variety of media • Basic social marketing approach (segmentation and targeting) • Inclusive process across sectors and WCfH • Positive health messages

  6. Food and Fitness for Children and Young People • Objectives • to raise awareness of childhood obesity amongst parents of key stage 2 children (7-11 year olds) • to provide information on Welsh Assembly Government food and fitness initiatives • to provide information on the data and evidence base regarding the issue of childhood obesity. • Target audience • parents of key stage 2 children

  7. Food and Fitness (2) • Methodology • Leaflet distributed to all parents of children at Key Stage 2 • Workshop at launch of Food and Fitness Implementation Plan • Media • Website

  8. Website daily web articles were featured on our website which covered the following issues: • Childhood obesity • Healthy eating • Exercise for energy • Food and fitness for free • Food and fitness for a fussy child.

  9. Booze up: The Low Down • Objectives • To improve awareness of personal safety before, during and after drinking alcohol • To provide information around units of alcohol and recommended guidelines • Target audience • Private sector staff attending Christmas parties • Staff at all 13 NHS Trusts, 22 LHBs and local authorities in Wales

  10. Booze up: The Low Down (2) • Methodology • Poster • Info cards • Media attention • Website

  11. Healthy Me/ Iechyd i Mi • Objectives • To encourage the public to contact WCfH • To test the use of new technologies in reaching out to the public • To provide a human interest angle to health messages • Target audience • General public, building on New Year’s resolutions

  12. Healthy Me/ Iechyd i Mi (2) • Methodology • Month long competition via new technologies (text, freephone, email) and old ones (radio interviews, press releases, bilingual adverts in local press) for top health tips • Jo Blog online web diary

  13. Green Spaces – A Pathway to Health • Objectives • To explore what actions have, and need to be taken, to encourage more usage of local green spaces • To launch the “Physical Activity Network for Wales” • To launch the “Rural Health Profile” • Target audience • Individuals with an interest in health, the environment and communities

  14. Green Spaces – A Pathway to Health (2) • Methodology • Conference • Website • Press • Personal pledges

  15. Key Lessons Learned • Good cooperation and buy-in with Welsh Assembly Government at all levels is required • Realistic logistical and operational framework is necessary • Whole organisational approach key • Timely and appropriate targeting, building on external factors is essential

  16. Key Lessons Learned • New audiences reached • Connectivity and creation of a persona was important • Text and freephone services had minimal uptake • May require relatively little financial input, but staff time intensive

  17. Taking these lessons into a Unified Public Health System Communicating with the public will be a cross-cutting requirement for the whole of the proposed Unified Public Health System. • A strategic approach is required- integral and resourced part of agreed Public Health programmes • Robust evaluation is required • Build on social marketing theory-clear target audiences • Consider the evidence but be willing to try new approaches- e.g. “Jo Blog”

  18. sue.mably@wch.wales.nhs.uk www.wch.wales.nhs.uk

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