Written question WQ94788
- Asked by
- Andrew RT DaviesConservative
- To be answered by
- Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 6 days
Question
How is the Welsh Government working with health boards to ensure that people are aware of their nearest minor injury unit and the distinction between the services offered there versus those offered in accident and emergency?
Answer
Answered by Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care
The aim of the national ‘Help Us Help You’ marketing campaign is to educate the public about the range of health services available, to help avoid the ‘default’ behaviour of going to a GP or Emergency Department. There is a particular focus on raising awareness of appropriate alternatives, notably minor injury units, pharmacies and NHS 111 Wales. Our communications team works closely with communications colleagues in Health Boards, PHW and WAST to ensure alignment of messaging.
Furthermore, our communications team creates, and regularly updates communications assets, and shares toolkits with Health Boards and other stakeholders, to provide a national steer on messaging. The next phase of advertising for Help Us Help You will begin on 15th November and run until the end of March, however, year-round messages are promoted and shared via Welsh Government, Health Boards and other stakeholder social media channels. The communications team also partners with organisations such as Age Cymru to help reach audiences who may be digitally excluded.