The Teenage Cancer Trust
Teenagers and Young People’s
Cancer Service at UCLH is the primary treatment centre for teenage cancer in London and the South East. We were asked to co-write and design a brochure for GPs detailing the services offered and explaining how to refer patients to the Unit.
The brochure has just been reprinted for a second time.
A London teaching hospital wanted to update its information for patients attending the Emergency Department (A+E). The aim was to inform patients about the best way to manage a range of common conditions, as well as describe the ‘A+E journey’ and suggest appropriate alternatives to A+E.
We edited text and gained clinical approval for a suite of 40 new leaflets (including foreign language versions), then designed and managed printing.
Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust was undergoing a transformation programme and needed to communicate its vision for change to patients, the media and the local community.
We conducted interviews with senior staff and patient representatives to produce agreed ‘core copy’ to be used as the basis for online copy, information leaflets and externally placed articles.
To support the publishing programme at the Nuffield Trust, we designed a programme of process mapping, writing training and internal communications, to improve the quality of writing and engagement with the publishing programme.
The programme has delivered improvements in writing quality and helped streamline the delivery of publishing projects, as well as providing a series of reference documents and an up-to-date style guide.
The programme has also developed the publishing workflow to accommodate ebooks and print-on-demand editions.
“Understood us as an organisation, built good relationships and managed implementation astutely. Developed and successfully implemented writing training programmes that have upskilled our researchers.”
A high-performing NHS foundation trust wanted to create an information booklet for new inpatients, as part of a welcome pack that would also contain socks, slippers and other useful items. We created a design concept for board approval, then edited text and developed the layout. We also produced a safety leaflet and contact card for insertion into the pack.
Since launch the welcome pack has contributed to improved patient feedback and a reduction in readmissions; the pack was runner-up in the Patient Information Network awards ‘Access to Information’ category.
As part of a major site redevelopment, we were asked to edit over 200 pages of text for a London teaching hospital’s new website, to ensure the site content was ready ahead of launch.
The NHS Confederation publishing team was highly experienced, but wanted to move beyond competence to achieve editorial excellence.
We designed and delivered a workshop to first define the key features of top-class copy-editing and then map out a practical implementation process.
The workshop received positive feedback from both course participants and managers.
Photo by Mimi Thian on Unsplash
We were commissioned to produce a briefing to map the role of Health and Wellbeing Boards in the new NHS commissioning landscape, as part of a joint NHS Confederation/Local Government Association project.
Central to this was an infographic poster, highlighting the role of the voluntary sector in developing local commissioning plans.
We have produced a wide range of publications for the Nuffield Trust, both working within the brand guidelines and developing new design directions.
Projects have included a publication to mark the NHS’ 65th anniversary and a new series of policy briefings on key topics in health care, to be published around the 2015 General Election.
For each publishing project, we recruited a team of designers and editors to help deliver the project, and managed print procurement.
“Matthew has a very wide knowledge of publishing. His experience has been central to implementation of an ambitious programme. He can always be relied upon to remain calm and collected, and to turn projects round quickly.”
Following appointment of a new chief executive the Nuffield Trust wanted a fresh look and feel to signal a new direction. We managed the project from start to finish including procurement, design direction, change management and internal communications.
The result was an elegant new identity that both reflected the Trust’s brand values and supported the Trust's print and digital communications programme.
“Our brand review project produced an excellent new visual identity for the Nuffield Trust. The new identity is a cornerstone of our revamped communications programme. Matthew managed the project expertly from start to finish. Highly recommended.”
The Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) produces good practice guides and briefings for professionals working in social care.
We have worked on a wide range of publications, editing the text to ensure accuracy and clarity, and working with designers and printers to ensure delivery on time and within budget.
“Knowledgeable, organised, and always aware of who the project is designed for.”
Photo by Christina @ wocintechchat.com on Unsplash
The Health Foundation is a major independent charity working to improve the quality of health care in the UK.
We undertook a thorough review of the charity’s publishing processes (including a benchmarking exercise) and made several recommendations, contributing to a streamlined workflow and saving time and costs.
The National Liaison and Diversion Development Network is an initiative aimed at improving health outcomes for offenders and reducing reoffending.
We were asked by the Network to produce a briefing highlighting the work of the Offender Health Collaborative (OHC), to show how self-assessment can be used to improve the quality of local offender services.
Designed as a commemoration of the 30th anniversary of Crisis, the homelessness charity, for a concert held at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. Highly commended in the PR Week awards. (An oldie but goldie.)
Three Five Four is a long-established printing company that is committed to good environmental practices. (Even their name reflects the pantone colour green).
We wrote the copy for their new website, helping to drive an increase in business.
“Quickly got to grips with the project, and then delivered. Very happy with the result ”
QualityWatch is a five-year joint Health Foundation/Nuffield Trust programme, measuring care quality in the NHS in England.
The brief was to source and implement a visual identity that would reflect the 'digital-first' ethos of the joint venture. We managed the delivery of the new brand including procurement, design direction and internal communications.
The new identity successfully supports digital and print communications, an annual conference and other events.
MB Communications Director Matthew Batchelor is the author of the best-selling Project Management Secrets. Published by HarperCollins in 2010, the book has sold over 10,000 copies in English and has been translated into languages, including Portuguese, Thai and Vietnamese.
Matthew gives presentations and runs training events based on the stories and insights in the book, to help organisations improve the way they think about and manage communications projects.
Because we believe in spreading the word about the value of good project management, reduced rates are available for public and voluntary organisations.
We were asked by NHS Employers to produce a weekly newsletter for emailing to HR professionals across the NHS. For each issue we prepared a draft list of articles, then wrote and edited the text prior to distribution.
For more information please contact us or call 07789 867 920