Is social marketing the NHS’s secret weapon?
Posted by TeamPC on 24 May 2017
If only we could bottle ‘the power to achieve’. Whether it’s a talent, set of skills, or technique that really works, we all need a bit of help when it comes to getting on in life and work. There are many that believe the NHS has a new secret weapon!
Social recognition of health issues
To be honest, the healthcare sector needs a bit of inspiration it comes to tackling society’s mass of health issues.
The growing number of people suffering from things like obesity due to poor diet, addiction, alcoholism, heart issues, stroke, blood pressure and so on – creates intense pressure on a health service that is already breaking.
Social marketing can address health issues before they develop
The latest thinking is that by making an early health intervention (with an targeted social marketing campaign), before a health condition sets in, people can be encouraged to take better care of themselves and to make more sensible decisions about their health/lifestyle habits.
There are many people that are starting to believe that health-inspired social marketing campaigns can do this and make a huge difference to the NHS, both in today’s tough climate, and in the future.
An effective healthcare strategy
But how do schemes work in reality, and can an early health intervention really deliver change on a large-scale?
Through accurate targeting, thoughtful delivery and use of the latest insight and segmentation techniques, social marketing penetrates the heart of a range of health issues, and has proven to influence people’s behaviour across communities and regions.
From the moment awareness is created, to the point a person responds, takes time but the amount of change that social marketing can (and has) delivered is colossal.
One such example, inspired by a leading NHS marketing agency, was for NHS North Lancashire.
A beacon project – NHS North Lancashire
NHS North Lancashire’s innovative men’s health campaign was designed to address the inequalities in the health of its male population aged 30-74, specifically the high mortality rates from CVD.
The campaign delivered free access to a quick and convenient mobile health check, available to them at their place of work. Following its launch a few years ago, more and more men have used the health checker. The number of people doing this on a daily basis, continues to rise.
This scheme is a clear indication of how social marketing can make a difference to peoples’ lives. It was a huge success for NHS North Lancashire. Is social marketing the NHS’s new secret weapon – I guess time will tell!
Who are we? We’re Perfect Circle - an award-winning social marketing agency, (in Manchester and London) delivering positive behavioural change across the UK
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