Manchester NHS uses SMS for Stop Smoking Campaign
Printer friendly
By introducing SMS text messaging campaigns this increases the accessibility of the Stop Smoking Service and thus increases the number of requests from people who need support or wish to quit. People can now contact the service outside normal working hours and they can do this immediately – whereas the use of telephone numbers may get lost or forgotten.
It is being used in a number of different campaigns and by utilising different keywords it provides valuable feedback to measure the success of each marketing ploy. For example, the keyword ‘Galaxy' is being used for a target campaign with Galaxy Radio and the keyword ‘Smoke' is being promoted on beer mats which have been distributed to over 100 pubs in Manchester.
People send an SMS text to the Stop Smoking Service and then receive a call providing them with a list of support options, including local trained pharmacists where they live, nearest drop in sessions and also to book appointments with specialist stop smoking advisors.
The Stop Smoking Service records all referrals to the service and the method of referral. Therefore, it can break down the number of people using the SMS service according to the keyword received by SMS text (linked to each campaign) and the outcome of the conversation (e.g. referred to specialist advisor/pharmacist/info only, etc).
Richard Holford, Senior Public Health Development Advisor, at Manchester NHS, comments:
'SMS text messaging is proving to be an efficient, cost-effective and controlled way for people to access the service. It is a good way for young people to access the service and with its ease of communication, its immediacy in terms of response and the way the success of each campaign can be measured are just some of the benefits.'
Related links to this article:
Manchester NHS
Mobifi
www.stopsmokingmanchester.co.uk
Enter the 2007 e-Government National Awards
Nominations open for the e-Government National Awards 2007 on 2nd July 2007 - with 11 categories recognising this year's "best of the best". The Awards recognise and praise the best strategies, achievements, teams and individuals in UK e-Government.
Platinum sponsor is KPMG, and also a sponsor is O2.
The Awards are supported by the Cabinet Office e-Government Unit, the Office of Government Commerce, the Society of Information Technology Management (Socitm), and SOLACE (Society of Local Authority Chief Executives and Senior Managers).
- Login or Register to comment
- Add to a social bookmarking site
Editor's Manifesto: Tales of the entirely expected
"Several weeks into the new era of Coaltiion Government and certain key themes are emerging. First up, it's clear that the battle of the 'who can get their memoirs out the door quick enough to steal a march in the revisionist history stakes' has been triumphantly won by M'Lord Mandelson (Weren't those TV ads scary – the velvet smoking jacket, the leather fireside chair, all that Brillcream! The only thing missing was the theme tune to Tales of the Unexpected and the accompanying prancing sillouette of Harriet Harman or Diane Abbott dancing!)” Read more
The Dispatch Box: Data quality and the public sector
Colin Rickard, managing director EMEA at SAS subsidiary Dataflux, argues public sector data must be of high quality if the efficiencies promised with ICT and infrastructure is to be realised.
"Tackling the public sector’s data integration and data quality challenges is a tough prospect. The challenge may require more effort than a comparative project in a large private company. Data must be governed according to a strategy that necessitates bringing interested parties together.” Read more
Innovation: A step too far in the austerity age?
Complete and enter our draw to win a free seat at the e-Government Awards. The public sector is already perceived to be lacking in innovation, but is that a fair assessment, and what role could it play in helping the government meet efficiency targets? What do people working on the frontline of ICT in public sector organisations think? Take part and share your views
James Gardner, CTO at the Department for Work and Pensions discusses his thoughts on innovation in the public and commercial sectors.
Source: K2 Advisory