A simple and clear design to save NHS trust money

• IN response to the article on our design work (NHS bosses and their £35,000 logo, May 28), I would like to correct some inaccuracies and update your readers on the outcome of the board discussions on May 28.

The article was inaccurate about our response to the funding cutbacks; no staff have lost their jobs in the last few weeks. At the beginning of April 2010, the trust released around a dozen contractors and temporary staff, none of whom worked on the front line, as its first step to reduce costs. 

It also wrongly attributed the whole cost of the project to logo design. The design part of the budget is £10,000, and includes new letterheads, redesign work for the website and intranet and templates for presentations, posters and training materials as well as a logo. 

This represents such good value that a local NHS organisation has already asked us for the designer’s details for some work they are undertaking. 

The overall budget of £35,000 includes the printing of materials such as service user leaflets and other information which we would produce whether we have a new design or not.

We are doing this work in order to make it easier for service users, their carers and members of the public to identify our communications and leaflets, to help them to find the service that meets their needs.  

Currently, we have no consistency in the design of our materials, beyond the use of the NHS logo. 

Services develop their own materials, which is a costly, inconsistent and inefficient approach. By introducing templates for leaflets and posters we will create a design which will save us money and make services easier to find and access.

None of the initial concept designs you published on May 28 will be used, and we have made no commitment to work the words “care and innovation” into our branding. Instead, we are recommending a simpler, clearer logo, to be presented to the board of governors on June 15 for discussion. 

After careful consideration, the board has decided to proceed with the designs, which will make it easier for people to identify us and access our services.

WENDY WALLACE
Chief Executive
Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust

• THE poignant letter (June 4) from someone who cannot obtain mental health services from the Camden & Islington NHS Foundation Trust echoes pleas for help from lots of people who this trust simply fails.  

According to the latest papers for its next governors’ meeting on June 15, its marketing manager is blaming the press for the recent logo fiasco and insists that they should agree to this necessary expenditure.

Patients would do well to attend this public meeting and make their feelings known, otherwise the reckless way that this trust is spending money will mean that there will be fewer and fewer services left for people to access while the corporate image becomes bigger and grander.  

The other alternative would be to join the board of governors when treatment seems to be guaranteed.

NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED, N4