The Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust (RNOH), the UK’s largest orthopaedic hospital, has appointed Grayling to handle a major PR and brand building campaign.

Grayling’s brief is twofold: to increase awareness of the RNOH, its services and specialist expertise; and to provide support for a major redevelopment of the hospital’s site. This redevelopment will enable it to deliver first-class care to children and adults in purpose-built, state of the art facilities for the first time.

Grayling was selected for its combination of in-depth NHS knowledge and specialist planning expertise. The account will be led by Kathryn Ager, director in Grayling’s Public Sector, Health and Skills division. 

Jackie Stephen, head of corporate affairs, learning and development for RNOH, said: “This is a critical time in the Trust’s history. We are working towards Foundation Trust status by April 2014, while also embarking on a major redevelopment which will see the site transformed to meet the needs of patients in the twenty-first century. We were impressed with Grayling’s ability to combine significant NHS understanding with political and stakeholder planning experience, and we are delighted to be working with them on this campaign.”

Ager said: “This is a very exciting account to win. Despite its reputation as a national and international centre for excellence, the RNOH is not as well-known as other specialist Trusts and patient care is being delivered in dilapidated conditions, sometimes in wards originally designed for temporary war-time use."