Finalist
STPs - Early Areas of Action
Summary of work
Sustainability and Transformation Plans (STPs) are the process for translating NHS England’s Five Year Forward View into local action. Despite the importance of STPs, by August 2016 there had been little local or national scrutiny of the process, let alone public or patient involvement.
As people-powered campaigners, 38 Degrees became increasingly concerned that the public were being locked out of decisions about the future of their NHS. 38 Degrees recognised that the available information on STPs was scattered, opaque and inaccessible. STPs - early areas of action, was designed to rectify this with a clear, impartial and comprehensible analysis of draft STPs.
The report was the first comprehensive study of draft STPs, and formed the basis of a major 38 Degrees’ campaign. It was a splash in the Guardian and the Independent, secured the prestigious 7.10am slot on the BBC Today Programme and led the BBC lunchtime news. On social media the campaign achieved 155,632 engagements in the first fortnight, with 38 Degrees’ documentary viewed over two million times.
As a result of the campaign, NHS England was forced to make major concessions on public engagement, publishing a guide which sought to address concerns, and highlighting the importance of public involvement.
Judges’ comments
This was a good job, that was pitched at just the right level. The writing was clear and well structured with some useful insights into NHS Strategic Transformation Plans. An important piece of research, its writing made good use of side headings, figures and active language to flow smoothly.
