SASS media draws on experience in healthcare communications with new client
Sarah and Sarah at Thornaby-based SASS media Ltd have revealed they are now working with Consultants Choice Clinic to promote the company’s healthcare services, which bridge the gap between the NHS and private healthcare.
Sarah Walker is leading on the contract, drawing on her vast experience as a former health reporter at The Gazette on Teesside and her work in the PR department at South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation trust.
The Sarahs will be supporting Stockton-based Consultants Choice through a period of growth, as demand for its services, which include dermatology, gynaecology, Arthrosamid non-surgical treatment for knee osteoarthritis and a wide range of other medical specialties, continues to grow.
Hailey Dobbs, the registered manager and managing director at Consultants Choice Clinic, set up the healthcare provider, based on Surtees Business Park, on the belief that everyone deserves timely access to trusted medical advice and treatment – and that affordability shouldn’t be a barrier to excellent care.
Hailey says: “Since we started the business in 2024, it has grown from 20 consultants to at least 30 consultants – and we now have our top of the range ultrasound scanner and specialist sonographers.
“This has enabled us to offer an MSK [musculoskeletal] service, where you can be seen, scanned and receive injections for your MSK condition in one place on the same day.
“We’ve also started doing an outreach NHS service for Woodlands Hospital, so you can be seen here if you’re choosing to be seen under the Woodlands Choose and Book system.”
Hailey believes access to healthcare services like Consultants Choice are “vital” at the present time, with waiting lists for many specialist services on the NHS spiralling.
Hailey says: “There is more demand than ever, as people are aware that the NHS is struggling with long waiting times and people do want to be seen more quickly – and we offer an affordable solution.
“Where we differ from the NHS is that patients have one point of contact within one administrative team for all their healthcare needs.
“If you need to be seen at a hospital one of our consultants also works at, you can still arrange that through our team, as we look after all our consultants’ lists and diaries, waiting times and billing.”
These things are all key to Consultants Choice Clinic’s success, as well as the fact that their healthcare services are more affordable than private hospital costs.
Hailey says: “I think there’s always been a place for private healthcare as it provides people with another option if they know they can be seen more quickly than they would be waiting on the NHS.
“We offer patients a choice in the same way as the private sector within any industry.
“People are choosing private healthcare more and more because of the waiting times on the NHS and although we are not free, we provide an alternative which sits somewhere in the middle between NHS care and traditional private healthcare.”
The clinic has amassed some excellent feedback from patients, who talk about the friendly staff and the fact they are treated as an individual.
Hailey is very selective of the consultants, based on their patient facing skills and ability to see the patient as an individual.
Hailey says the clinic is keen to grow to offer more services and is looking at investing in more sites, but the emphasis is on maintaining a “platinum service” for patients.
“We do want to expand, but above all else, we want to deliver a safe service, so we are taking it day by day and year by year,” Hailey says.
“But in the near future, you will see more sites from Consultants Choice Clinic.”
At SASS media, health PR is just one of our specialisms!
We support businesses, public sector organisations and charities with their press and publicity needs, securing positive media coverage and supporting senior leaders with broadcast interviews in good times and bad.
We’re proactive when it comes to celebrating the good, but we also make sure you are on the front foot when facing media scrutiny in adverse times, always ensuring your reputation is maintained and upheld.
At the moment, we are working behind the scenes of our own business to launch a new service for start-up businesses and a new subscription service to help get you in front of journalists.
At the same time, we are continuing to provide bespoke PR packages and strategies to directors from small sole trader businesses to those in large public sector organisations.
If you have something to celebrate in the press or you need help carefully navigating the media landscape, contact Sarah Walker, co-director of SASS on 07896 894538.
