Excellence in Communications - Payers/Policy Makers

Summary of work

Familial Hypercholesterolaemia (FH) affects approximately 1 in 250 in the UK, with an estimated 80-90% undiagnosed. If left untreated, the condition can be fatal.

HEART UK’s campaign was convened to apply pressure on Government, the NHS and the National Screening Committee (NSC) to implement an FH screening programme and improve services for patients. This involved the mobilisation of HEART UK’s Ambassador Network, via a policy training workshop and the provision of a patient toolkit to support meaningful engagement with the system and key decision-makers.

Twenty-one Ambassadors utilised their newly developed skills to successfully lobby parliamentarians. A digital map displaying the location of lipid (specialist) clinics and estimated number of FH patients in each constituency was also used to engage parliamentarians.

Meetings were also secured with Professor Huon Grey, National Clinical Director for Cardiovascular Prevention, NHS England and Jamie Waterall, National Lead for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention, Public Health England to rally support.

The NSC has since committed to reviewing the case for FH screening and invited HEART UK to submit a new application to the Committee.

Judges' comments

HEART UK and Hanover Communications have put together a really solid and well thought out campaign. They effectively raised awareness and triggered reconsideration on policy, generating tangible and relevant outcomes.