We are all aware of the current important of cutting costs, without diminishing return on investment. At IDS UK we are often surprised when clients suggest that due to budget restraints they will mail GPs their leaflets instead of using an IDS leafleting campaign. Using IDS instead of a mailing is a cost effective alternative for a number of reasons:

• IDS UK takes care of all warehousing; unlike a mailing all that is needed from the client is one delivery of leaflets.
• IDS UK only visits surgeries that have requested the service; unlike mailed leaflets surgeries are happy to receive the information.
• IDS UK places leaflets within a wall mounted leaflet display rack within the waiting room; unlike a mailing leaflets will not end up hidden from patients.
• IDS UK measures return on investment using independent market research; unlike a mailing the campaign’s outcomes are measured.

Although ‘simply’ mailing out leaflets to surgeries may seem low cost and easy, it is not a cost effective way of reaching patients.

IDS UK is a cost effective alternative to mailings

The office for National Statistics recently produced Social Trends 40, an account marking 40 years of social reporting in the UK. The report contains five previously unpublished chapters of statistics and analysis including health. Editor, Matthew Hughes commented, “The UK and the world are very different places now compared to 40 years ago”. This is apparent in the changing health of the nation:

• Life expectancy at birth in the UK has risen more than 30% since 1901.
• In 2008 21% of males and 14% of females aged 16+ drank more than double the recommended daily allowance at least once a week.
• The proportion of adults in England classified as obese rose from 16% to 25% between 1994 and 2006.

The full report can be downloaded at www.statistics.gov.uk/socialtrends.