With public wealth declining, how can we improve public health?
www.mwadvocate.com
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About Us Established in February 2012, MW Advocate is a bespoke advocacy and communications partner for a wide range of health organisations across Northern Ireland. We are committed to the advancement of health and wellbeing for those living in Northern Ireland and support charities and organisations across a number of areas to deliver this objective. Brendan Mulgrew - Managing Partner Brendan’s previous experience includes work with economic development agency Ortus, as Ministerial Special Advisor for Dr Sean Farren and as Managing Director of one of Ireland’s largest independent PR and Public Affairs companies, before establishing MW Advocate in February 2012. @brendanbelfast Carl Whyte - Partner Carl’s early career was in economics and finance. He worked in PwC’s Economic & Public Policy Unit before joining AIB Corporate Banking’s North America division. Along with Brendan Mulgrew he founded MW Advocate in February 2012 and specialises in healthcare, social media, campaigns, technology and financial PR. @carldevlinwhyte Brendan Scott - Client Advisor Before joining MW Advocate Brendan worked as Parliamentary Assistant to Patsy McGlone. He has experience in advocacy across a wide range of matters and government departments, as well as work with local Small & Medium Enterprises, charities and local community groups. @BrenC_Scott Anna McDonald - Client Advisor Anna joined MW Advocate after graduating in October 2013. She has experience in local press, social media and charitable and community organisations. She has been the public relations co-ordinator for the local Newcastle Arts Festival since 2011 and is an active supporter of the Children’s Heartbeat Trust. @Anna_McD91
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Our approach - Hearts AND Minds Our national public health system came about after tireless campaigning, fundraising and volunteering in the past. We continue these traditions, adapting them for a modern political and digital age, and ensuring all work is underpinned by evidence. Successful advocacy and communications work must win hearts and minds, not just hearts. With public wealth declining, how can we improve public health? Northern Ireland faces significant challenges to our health and wellbeing services in the coming years. While the 2011-2014 Programme for Government identified ‘improving health and wellbeing’ as part of Priority 2, ‘protecting our people’ as part of Priority 3 and ‘improving community and personal wellbeing’ as part of Priority 4, in real terms the overall departmental budget has declined by 0.25% since 2011 and requires £420 million this year to meet funding expectations for 2014/2015. In addition, the Department expects to record a deficit of £14m in 2013/2014. Across a range of areas including A&E, mental health and wellbeing, residential care and specialist surgery, public perceptions continue to decline. This is despite the fact that spending in real terms has remained static in a context of reductions in public spending elsewhere. Transforming Your Care (TYC) The TYC programme which is the cornerstone of current Government policy in Northern Ireland has the potential to radically alter the way in which health and wellbeing services are delivered in Northern Ireland. The programme features a shift away from centrally delivered services towards the community. That changes the environment in which your organisation works and a new context means a new opportunity.
“The threat of all paediatric cardiac surgery being moved to England with no concrete plans for emergency provision or cardiology services here was very real. MW Advocate designed and implemented an unprecedented researchbased campaign which showed how clinically unsafe such a move would be. ‘Hands Up for Heart Surgery’ harnessed political, clinical and public support to stop the move and ensure treatment is now delivered through a Belfast-Dublin corridor.” Sarah Quinlan, Chief Executive, Children’s Heartbeat Trust.
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Children’s Heartbeat Trust Northern Ireland’s leading charity which supports children with congenital heart disease tasked MW Advocate to develop and implement a campaign to ensure the introduction of an all-Island cardiac and cardiology network. This followed a Public Health Agency sponsored review carried out by Sir Ian Kennedy which proposed that surgery be moved to England. The ‘Hands Up for Heart Surgery’ campaign built credibility and support among clinicians, expert bodies, families, public representatives, policymakers, media, celebrities and partner charities. We focussed on direct advocacy with the Health Minister and Health Committee, but also the CMO, Department, Agency and Trust staff. In addition, we worked with MPs, TDs and the HSE to ensure that the network became a political reality.
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The campaign used innovative techniques including Northern Ireland’s largest ever Facebook petition and YouTube videos to build support across the region. All of our work was underlined with detailed research which showed that removing access to surgical provisions in Ireland for children born here would have disastrous consequences.
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Belfast Healthy Cities WHO’s European Healthy Cities Network includes over one hundred cities in Europe who seek to implement WHO strategy and policy at urban and local areas. The project was established in Belfast in 1989 and since then has played a leading role in developing urban health, healthy living and supporting the vulnerable and disadvantaged.
MW Advocate has supported Belfast Healthy Cities in building and developing a wider understanding of the importance of WHO policy and its relevance to Belfast. Last year’s inaugural Belfast Healthy Cities awards were the first to recognise those promoting health in the city and will now be repeated annually.
Brain Injury Matters Acquired Brain Injury affects over 2,000 people in Northern Ireland and is defined as an injury to the brain which is not hereditary, congenital or degenerative. Brain Injury Matters underwent a rebrand in 2013 which saw both a new brand identity and heralded a new era for the organisation. As well as directly promoting the new organisation, we also sought to raise the profile of Acquired Brain Injury through newspaper interviews and wider media profiles and political engagement.
“While Acquired Brain Injury affects thousands of people in Northern Ireland, it is far from the central focus of policymakers or the minds of the public. MW Advocate worked with us to increase awareness of the condition, those who live with it and the types of treatment and support available. Their team made a significant contribution to our work and strategic direction.” Fiona McCabe, Chief Executive, Brain Injury Matters.
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Talk to us for: •
Advocacy: we use evidence-based proposals to deliver improved health-outcomes by working with government, policy-makers, public representatives and health officials.
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Public Relations: we build and enhance your organisation’s reputation and perception across all key stakeholders.
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Effective social media management: we ensure that your Facebook and Twitter
Call us on: 028 9026 7072 engagement delivers directly to your organisation’s campaigns and goals, by effective communication with all stakeholders including hard-to-reach audiences. •
Campaign events: we deliver standout events which attract high profile speakers, participants and media while supporting your fundraising activity and building your profile.
Our current partners include:
The leading charity supporting children with congenital heart disease and their families.
A leading health-advocacy organisation based in Belfast and linked with cities worldwide.
A Derry-based advocacy and support organisation which aims to educate women on the potential dangers of drinking while pregnant.
Northern Ireland’s largest health and wellbeing charity and service provider.
Northern Ireland’s most innovative staff solution providers for locum doctors and nurses.
A charity supporting providing treatment and services for those with Acquired Brain Injury.
NI-based medical technology provider allowing real time radiography training for clinicians.
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(A) Sarah Quinlan launches the ‘Hands Up for Heart Surgery’ campaign at Stormont with Liam Clifford and his mum Joanne. (R) First Minister Peter Robinson MLA with ‘Artbeat’ winner Ruby McKenna at the PS Squared Gallery.
(L) Belfast Lord Mayor Cllr Nichola Mallon at the Belfast Healthy Cities event, ‘Planning my City’. (A) Broadcaster Claire McColllum launches new charity, Brain Injury Matters with Chair Peter Quinn and CEO Fiona McCabe.
(R) Health Minister Jim Wells MLA joins his colleagues at Stormont for a briefing by Drink Think. (B) Dr Tom Lynch, Head of Nuclear Medicine at the Northern Ireland Cancer Centre launches ‘Experior’ also at Stormont.
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“The first wealth is health.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Our Mission Statement: “MW Advocate will provide first class, effective and meaningful counsel to clients in the public, private and voluntary sectors across each of our business streams throughout Ireland. At all times we work professionally and ethically with a focus on delivering agreed goals with clients. We will create an organisation where talent is nurtured, training and professional development encouraged and great care is taken in all the work we do.”
Contact Us: Brendan Mulgrew, Managing Partner T: 02890 267072 E: brendan.mulgrew@mwadvocate.com @mwadvocate
MW Advocate 4th Floor, The Potthouse 1 Hill Street Belfast BT1 2LB
www.mwadvocate.com
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