Pop star Robbie Williams takes human growth hormone
BBC Radio 5 Live – listeners 7m reach weekly – Thursday 2 June

After Robbie Williams was reported to be injecting himself twice daily with testosterone, we offered up Endocrinologist Professor Ashley Grossman to talk about the benefits and pitfalls of the drug.

Meet The Elephant Man - Channel 4 -  Thursday 2 June

Over a period of several months, we organised extensive access to Trust Archivist Jonathan Evans and to the remains of Joseph Merrick for a Channel 4 documentary.  A team of scientists from the programme conducted scans on the bones to uncover never-before disclosed details of what Merrick actually looked like.  The programme team also brought Brian Richards, who suffers from the same disorder as Merrick, to the Royal London.  He traced the elephant man's footsteps to tell the story of how his life might have been.

Evening Standard – circulation 1m – Thursday 9 June
‘Baby died after 12-hour wait for intensive care’ 

‘A mother today told how her baby who was suffering serious breathing difficulties died after waiting 12 hours to be transferred to intensive care.’  The newspaper carried part of our statement explaining that changes had been made to improve bed management but that lack of access to an intensive care ward did not contribute to the child’s death. 

East London Advertiser – circulation 24,000 – Thursday 9 June
‘Mother whose son died after waiting for intensive care bed wants changes’

‘A mother whose baby son died after waiting 12 hours to be transferred to intensive care for serious breathing problems is demanding that lessons are learnt from his death.’   A shortened version of our statement was included in the article.

BBC London Tonight – 400,000 viewers – Wednesday 8 June
New Royal London Hospital – six months to opening day

We invited the BBC to visit the new hospital six months before the doors open and a largely positive piece ran at lunchtime and in the evening.  We showed them the helipad, the new theatres, the 7^th floor outdoor play area and A&E. 

Interviewed about the challenge of meeting our PFI payments, Steve Ryan said that the new hospital would help us to be more efficient and less wasteful.  A&E Consultant, Malik Ramadhan, said that whatever the debate over PFI, there was no question about the urgent need for a new hospital to meet the health needs of local people. 

Click here to watch the piece: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-13683630

East London Advertiser – 24,000 readers - Friday 10 June
New Royal London Hospital to open in six months

‘It has been five years in the making but in six months’ time the East End will open Europe’s largest and one of its most technically advanced new hospitals’.

Steve Ryan told the paper that the new hospital would replace “outdated, awkwardly configured facilities with facilities that meet the challenge of providing healthcare to a population which has some of the most challenging health needs of any in the UK.” Renal and urology matron, Emma Anderson, who was also interviewed, said:  “The new hospital is going to be fantastic – spacious, airy, bright.  The overall perception for our patients will be remarkable.” The piece went on to mention the PFI and previous reports that 100 beds would go before the hospital opened because of the high cost of running them. 

London 24 website – Friday 10 June ‘11
New Royal London hospital to open in six months

It has been five years in the making but in six months’ time the East End will open Europe’s largest and one of its most technically advanced new hospitals.

The Echo – Sunday 12 June ‘11
Dad’s walk of thanks for home’s vital support

A grateful dad is preparing for a gruelling 40-mile charity walk to say thanks to a charity which supported his family as his premature son battled to survive.

Alex Lindsay spoke about his gratitude for the support he received from staff at Stevenson House run by the Sick Children’s Trust who offer accommodation and support to families whose children are being treated at The Royal London where his son was born prematurely. 

The Independent – circulation 175,000 – Tuesday 7 June ‘11
James Moore:  Life after near-death

In a lengthy feature, the paper’s deputy business editor James Moore, praised the care he received while being treated at The Royal London for severe injuries following a motorcycle accident.  He particularly praised Harrison Ward nurse,  Nosizo Mabhena whose ‘tough love’, he says, worked wonders, enabling him to walk again and be discharged far sooner than expected, so good was his recovery.

'small c' cancer campaign - media launch on 15 June

Below is the media summary of the coverage, so far, for the 'small c' cancer campaign, which aims to alert people to the early warning signs of cancer, so that it can be diagnosed at an early stage, when it is small and more vulnerable to treatment.

Our Comms team is handling all communications for the campaign, which involves public health colleagues across north east London, as well as local GPs, pharmacists and community groups. 

A crucial part of the communications strategy is generating media coverage, and the media launch on 15 June at The Royal London resulted in widespread pick-up of the story by television, radio, online and print. 

This is an ongoing process and we will continue to push for further media coverage over the coming months as the small c campaign builds.

Television coverage

BBC London – audience 400,000 - 15 June

They ran a substantial package in their evening programme.  It included an interview with Barts Cancer Centre Clinical Oncologist, Dr Tom Powles, as well as interviews with two of the many cancer survivor case-studies whom we’d set up ahead of launch day.

ITV London Tonight – audience 350,000 – 15 June

They also ran a package in their teatime programme.  It included a lengthy interview with Barts Cancer Centre Director, Professor Nick Lemoine, as well as two of our case-studies, who both had their cancer diagnosed in time for it to be successfully treated.      

Local newspapers

The Hackney Gazette – circulation c20,000, including online  – Wednesday 15 June
Small c cancer campaign lauches today in Hackney

‘Hackney cancer survivors are backing the NHS ‘small c’ campaign that launched today, hoping to improve cancer survival in the borough by helping people spot the early warning signs.’

The newspaper carried an interview with a lung cancer survivor and stressed the importance of spotting cancer symptoms early enough for the disease to be successfully treated.   

The East London Advertiser –  circulation 24, 000 including online -  Thursday 23 June
Early diagnosis that can prevent deaths

‘Doctors have launched a campaign to make more people aware of the symptoms for lung and breast cancer in a bid to improve survival rates.’

The newspaper listed the five warning symptoms for both lung and breast cancer and also included lung cancer survivor Jane Malone’s account of how a ten minute trip to her GP for advice about a lingering cough saved her life. 

The Newham Recorder – circulation c20,000 including online – Thursday 23 June 
Cancer does not have to be a death sentence

‘Health experts have joined forces with a charity to raise awareness about cancer and reduce deaths from the disease.  The Small C campaign was launched by Barts and The London NHS Trust to improve cancer survival rates in north east London.’    

Council free sheets

East End Life – circulation 87,000 free copies a week – Monday 20 June
Don’t delay if you think you might have cancer

‘A woman who survived lung cancer because doctors caught it early is encouraging people to visit their GPs if they have any hint that something might be wrong.’

The newspaper carried a case-study interview and listed, in full, the five warning signs that could indicate lung and breast cancer. 

Newham Mag - circulation c90,000 free copies a week - Monday 20 June
Breast and Lung Cancer: The early WARNING SIGNS

'A unique health campaign is underway in Newham alerting people to the five warning signs of breast and lung cancer which require immediate GP attention.'

The article carried a full list of potential symptoms for both lung and breast cancer. 

Hackney Today – circulation 90,000 free copies a week – Monday 20 June
Don’t ignore the ‘small c’

‘Local NHS services have launched a campaign to alert residents to the warning signs of breast and lung cancer.  The ‘small c’ campaign hopes to help people recognised cancer indicators early, when treatment has the best chance of success.’  

Radio

BBC 94.9 : Breakfast Programme  - 500,000 audience reach - Wednesday 15 June  

Trust Lead Cancer Nurse Nuala Close and case-study Frances Clarke were interviewed during a four minute slot which discussed the campaign’s aims and  Frances’ experience following her early diagnosis and treatment for breast cancer.

BBC 94.9 : Drivetime Programme - 500,000 audience reach - Wednesday 15 June   

Consultant Clinical Oncologist, Dr Tom Powles, was interviewed at 1820 about the campaign and explained the importance of people taking responsibility for spotting the early warning signs of cancer.

LBC Radio 97.3 (which syndicates to Heart and Classic FM national stations)  - 950,000 audience reach - Wednesday 15 June 

Lead Cancer Nurse, Nuala Close, was interviewed at length about the aims of the campaign and the programme also interviewed our case study.

Sunrise Radio (London)  - audience reach 370,000 - Wednesday 15 June 

Case-study Frances Clarke and Medical Oncologist Jeremy Steele were interviewed about the campaign on Sunrise, which is the UK's most-listened-to Asian radio station.

Online

BBC News London – 11m users in May -  15 June
Early warning breast and lung cancer campaign started

‘A campaign is being started in four London boroughs to alert people to signs of breast cancer and lung cancer.  The 'small c' campaign is being launched in Waltham Forest, Hackney, Tower Hamlets and Newham.’ 

The article also listed in full the five early warning signs for both lung and breast cancer and carried links to breast and lung cancer sections of the small c campaign’s website.

Click to read: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-13775749

The bravest bride
Worcester News – Monday 20 June

‘A young woman who fears she will die from a terminal bowel disease will marry days before she goes into hospital for the radical treatment that could save her life.’  The newspaper reported that Beth Dobson, who has an aggressive form of Crohn’s disease is waiting for a “revolutionary” stem cell transplant to be performed at Barts.

Hospital pillows “riddled with infection”

Many media outlets covered a study into the bacteria and infections lurking in hospital pillows.  A study led by Trust scientist, Dr Art Tucker, concluded that the problem was minimised by using hermetically sealed pillows which stop infection spreading.

The story was covered in The Daily Mail  (circulation 2m), Daily Telegraph (circulation 630,000), The Times (circ 448,000), Newstrack India website and The Atlantic wire website.

Barts care for elderly woman was ‘atrocious’
London Evening Standard – 20 June ’11 - circulation 750,000

“Nurses at a top London trust left a dying woman malnourished and gave her “atrocious” care, her family said today.

The paper reported that the Trust had paid tens of thousands of pounds to the family of Irene Underwood, who died of blood poisoning aged 77.   We issued a statement stressing that an internal investigation had established there was no clinical negligence in Mrs Underwood’s treatment.   Although they failed to carry the statement in full, the paper did report that Mrs Underwood’s family’s claim was “settled with no admission of liability.” 

Panorama – audience 2.5m – Monday 27 June ‘11

Last Monday’s programme generated a huge amount of media interest in the Trust after we were held up as an example of best practice in a report about sub-standard surgical instruments being used on patients in the UK. 

We worked over several months with the programme-makers, allowing them to film the work of Trust Lead Technologist, Tom Brophy, who inspects every batch of surgical instruments that comes into our hospitals.  

Tom was interviewed at length about the kinds of defects he has spotted in instruments, many of which are manufactured in very poor working conditions in Pakistan.  He was filmed carrying out the multiple checks he regularly performs to ensure all our equipment is fit for use.  The programme focused, throughout, on our status as the only UK Trust with such procedures.

Coverage of Panorama’s findings and Tom’s groundbreaking work featured on many other media outlets, including 122 local newspapers across the UK.  The story was also covered by the following:   

• BBC News Channel – 200,000 viewers – 27 June ’11

They ran a substantial news package throughout the day, previewing the Panorama programme that aired later that day

• BBC London 94.9 (radio) – 500,000 listeners – 27 June ‘11
• BBC London (TV) – 400,000 viewers – 27 June ‘11
• The Sun – circulation 2.7m – 27 June ‘11
• Daily Mail – circulation 2m – 27 June ‘11
• Metro – 17m readers daily – 27 June ‘11
• Daily Telegraph – circulation 600,000 – 27 June ‘11
• Ealing Times – circulation c 20,000 – 27 June ‘11
• Daily Mirror – circulation 1.1m – 27 June ‘11

I’ve got a splitting headache
Daily Mirror - circulation 1.1m – Monday 27 June ‘11

‘A road accident victim who lost a huge chunk of his skull had it replaced with plastic and was ready to fly on holiday to Australia just 10 days later.’

A full page photo feature ran in the Mirror after we proactively put their journalist in touch with patient Peter Wright and Consultant Maxillofacial Surgeon, Simon Holmes.  The piece detailed the extensive and highly intricate treatment that Peter required and included name-checks for both the Trust and The Royal London.  It included a striking image of Peter's shattered skull to illustrate the mammoth task facing Simon and his team.

Referring to Simon and his colleagues, Peter told the paper:  “The fact they have been able to fix me and give me a new lease of life is a miracle.”

Many other media outlets picked up the story including the following websites:  Sky News; Orange; Yahoo; CapitalFM.  We expect further media coverage after many news organisations contacted us, expressing an interest in covering the story. 

Mums keep abreast of feeding habits
East End Life – circulation 87,000 homes – 27 June – 3 July edition

‘The number of mothers breastfeeding in Tower Hamlets has doubled in the past five years.  More than 50% of mums breastfed their babies in 2010-2011 compared to just over a quarter in 2005-06, according to figures released by Barts and The London NHS Trust.’

The newspaper carried quotes from Joy Hastings, breastfeeding project co-ordinator and midwife at Barts and The Royal London.  She said: “With approximately 4,000 births at The Royal London Hospital every year, these are very promising figures and prove our range of initiatives to help new mums breastfeed are working.”