NHS Direct joins forces with PCTs to raise awareness and usage of its services this winter

NHS Direct is working with 20 PCTs across the country to provide public information aimed at raising awareness and usage of its telephone and web-based services amongst those patient groups which they feel would most benefit from them.

NHS Direct is working with the PCTs to target those patient groups that tend to be the least informed about health services generally and can therefore use them inappropriately. The 20 PCTs selected have below average use of NHS Direct’s 0845 4647 service.

A limited range of materials, developed with patient focus groups, were produced including leaflets with peel off credit cards; posters, window stickers and pharmacy bags. NHS Direct is working with the PCTs to distribute the materials through a range of settings frequented by the target patient groups e.g. GP surgeries, pharmacies, Sure Start Children’s centres, job centres, libraries, etc.. Pharmacy bags will be distributed as part of a national distribution exercise.

As part of managing local winter pressures, we are also carrying out a range of national activities to raise awareness of NHS Direct’s multi-channel services, which all PCTs in England (excluding the NHS 111 pilot areas) will benefit from:

  • leaflets distributed to 5,000+ GP surgeries (November 2010-January 2011)
  • leaflets distributed through Bounty new mother packs (November 2010-January 2011)
  • leaflets distributed through 4,000 pharmacies – Boots, Lloyds, Superdrug, Asda, Tesco and Sainsbury (November-December 2010)
  • pharmacy bags distributed through 1,700 pharmacies (December 2010)
  • posters distributed to 2,000 working men’s clubs (November 2010)
  • partnership working with organisations including Citizens Advice Bureau, Job Centre Plus, WRVS, YWCA, Tourist Information Centres, Travelodge, Premier Inn, Days Inn, Welcome Break and Road Chef Motorway services to distribute information about NHS Direct

All NHS and third party organisations can order our public information materials free of charge via: