Communications team wins national award

The Guy’s and St Thomas’ Communications team has been named as the Health and Local Government Communications Team of the Year.

This prestigious accolade was presented at the UK Public Sector Communications Awards 2017 on Wednesday 6 September.

The awards recognise excellent communication strategies and campaigns, teams and individuals in local and national government, emergency services and not-for-profit bodies from across the UK.

The Guy’s and St Thomas’ Communications team was particularly recognised for its response to the Westminster and London Bridge terrorist attacks – which ensured patients, visitors and staff were kept fully informed at all times – and for communications relating to the opening of the new Cancer Centre at Guy’s Hospital in September 2016.

The judges said: "(We) were very impressed with this team, they have had to manage significant issues, pressures and tragedy this year and have handled all of this in a strong, professional manner. The team have pulled together and achieved amazing results."

Our team runs one of the busiest press offices in the NHS, communicates with more than 15,000 staff working in hospitals and community centres, keeps two million patients a year informed through 10 different websites, develops almost 500 patient leaflets every year, and organises numerous high profile events and VIP visits.

Anita Knowles, Director of Communications, says: “In a year when many public sector communications teams have faced significant challenges, including as a result of the tragic terror attacks in London and Manchester, it is a real honour to have been recognised for the work that we do to support patients and staff here at Guy’s and St Thomas’.”