Contacting the Communications and Marketing team

The Communications and Marketing team deals with all media inquiries for Southport and Formby District General Hospital, Ormskirk District General Hospital, North West Regional Spinal Injuries Centre and Sefton Sexual Health.

All media must request permission to film/photograph on our sites and will be accompanied by a member of the team while here.

If you would like to arrange an interview with any of our clinicians, it must be arranged through the Communications team.

Our press office is available between 8am and 4pm, Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays). If you are a member of the media and have an inquiry, please phone 01704 704714 or email the Communications team.

Out of hours. If you are a member of the media, please call our switchboard on 01704 547471 and ask for the Duty Manager who, depending on the urgency of your call, will then liaise with the communications team to provide you with a response.

Coronavirus

Any information required about cases of Coronavirus will be confirmed by the Department of Health media team – please contact them if you have any inquiries.

Patient condition checks

If you are a member of the media and wish to request an update on a patient’s condition, you need to phone the Communications team and have the patient’s full name and date of birth and/or first line of their address.

We are unable to locate patients without this information. We will not give any information to the media without the consent of the patient or the patient’s next of kin.

Cameras, video and social media

Cameras and videos

Cameras and mobile phone cameras must not be used to photograph other patients, patient records and information, and data or information belonging to the Trust, including images of screens. This is to protect the privacy and dignity of patients and staff.

The Trust understands that there may be occasions where patients want a procedure filmed. All such requests must be made in writing to the clinical team and agreed by all parties beforehand. The Trust reserves the right to refuse or withdraw permission to film.

There is no need for photos to be taken of clinical records. All patients have a right to access their information. Please see the Access to Your Health Records section.

Social media

Patients and visitors are asked to be considerate when posting on social media while in hospital – in particular, the posting of images which could compromise other patients’ privacy.

Staff are encouraged to challenge what they consider to be inappropriate online behaviour and will report their concerns. Any subsequent abuse directed at staff will also be acted on.

Staff should not be contacted on social media. It is against professional codes of conduct for staff to engage with patients in this manner.