Things to consider

What’s unique about your service that patients should be told about?

• Are you running new clinics such as weight management or smoking cessation?
• Are you offering appointments in the evenings or at weekends?
• Do you offer telephone consultations?
• Can patients book appointments over the internet?

Who wants to know?

• Is it everyone? Or selected groups?
• Do you want to target the younger working population who are time-poor and would like to see their GP in the evening?
• Do you want to target older people for flu jab clinics?
• Would patients with diabetes like to know that they can email their blood pressure reading to the practice or take it themselves in the waiting room?

How are you going to market your message?

• Is it a poster in the waiting room or a message on your LCD display?
• A banner on your website?
• If you have email addresses, can you send a mailshot to patients or include something in your newsletter?
• A notice in the local newsagent?
• Use the local paper?
• Leaflets in nearby services such as pharmacies or libraries?

Practical advice on producing a good leaflet

For simple and practical information about practice leaflets and general communications advice, go to pages 59–102 of the brand guidelines for GP services.

Advice includes

• information about Core Information Requirements;
• suggested additional information to be included;
• writing your leaflet – advice on the writing of practice leaflets;
• important advice on how to communicate with hard-to-reach groups;
• how to make your leaflets readily available;
• how to evaluate your leaflet;
• practical advice on technical design issues; and
• design templates.