§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what his Department's public awareness strategy is for NHS Direct; and what plans he has to launch an awareness campaign over the winter. [24669]
§ Ms Blears[holding answer 8 January 2002]: NHS Direct is an integral part of the Department's "Get the Right Treatment" campaign this winter, as it was last year, and the year before (when the campaign was called "Choose the Right Remedy"). NHS Direct is promoted as one of the range of health care options available to people, along with self-care, the pharmacist, the general practitioner surgery, accident and emergency and 999.
National activity includes press advertising in television listings and women's weekly magazines, and media relations campaign targeting women's consumer and lifestyle media and a centrally produced A6 folded leaflet distributed through pharmacies and GP surgeries.
A 'Get the Right Treatment' campaign toolkit has been distributed to all communications leads within the national health service, designed to help them support the national campaign at a local level.