Press release

Newcastle unveil new addition

6 Jun 2008

The Life Channel has successfully launched its bespoke Doctors surgery television service across Newcastle Primary Care Trust.

The launch was attended by over 100 senior professionals from the Newcastle and North East area.

In many instances speakers showcased their campaigns which are running or soon to run on the Channel over the next few months.

Commenting on the launch, Dr Danny Ruta, Director of Public Health for Newcastle PCT said, "In the NHS, we're only really just starting to wake up to the fact that we can use the same marketing methods and techniques that companies like Nike use to sell trainers. And the best commercial marketing is extremely effective at influencing the way in which people think and the way in which people behave. Now with social marketing, we can actually use the same methods to persuade people to stop smoking, take more exercise, even take a Chlamydia test."

Dr Ruta went on to say that "once we've developed these innovative new marketing campaigns, what we need is to find better channels of communicating them than the leaflets and posters you see pinned to a waiting room in a GP surgery. That's why when I got to see The Life Channel demonstration for the first time, I got really excited, because you're in a GP surgery, and you have a waiting area with a captive audience for about 27 minutes, and they've got health on their mind, they're very receptive to health improvement messages, and they would welcome engaging, informative TV to make those 27 minutes go by more quickly."

Dr Ruta concluded by saying "I'm delighted to welcome The Life Channel to Newcastle."

To watch footage of the launch, please visit Newcastle PCT Launch.