Solution: We developed a communications strategy and project management plan that allowed all the various stakeholders such as NHS England & Improvement and the Department of Health and Social Care as well as the maternity review team, to understand all the key actions, timings, communications, event management needs that would enable a successful delivery of the launch of the first report of the Independent Maternity Review of The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust.
Result: We initially commenced work with this consultancy in October 2020 to deliver the launch of the first report and following the success of the launch we were recommissioned to continue this level of support to facilitate the delivery of the final report and the launch event. The first report launch was covered in the COVID19 press conference on 10 December 2020 alongside the other key issues of the day which included Brexit and COVID19.
Following the publication of the first report, we were recommissioned to provide strategic, communications, media handling, and event management support alongside project management to ensure the successful delivery of the publication of the final report of the Independent Maternity Review of The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust that took place on 30 March 2022. The publication of the report dominated the news agenda on the release date and gained coverage in all the major news channels such as BBC, Sky, Channel 4, ITV; broadsheet and tabloid press nationally including The Guardian, The Sunday Times, The Mirror as well as in lifestyle magazines like Grazia.
The impact of both the first and second reports has resulted in increased government funding for maternity safety alongside the urgent and essential actions from the report being implemented in all hospital trusts across England and Wales.
