Saving Barts.

The challenge…
After eight years of planning, the £1.1 billion PFI scheme to rebuild Barts and Royal London was threatened by a last-minute Treasury review. Concerned doctors hired hanover to ensure the PFI proceeded with minimal alterations to the original proposal.

 

What we did…
We put immediate pressure on the Treasury and Department of Health by securing a front-page story in The Times, as well as a barrage of other media coverage in the first week. Behind the scenes, a broad Labour Party and ethnic community coalition was built to pressure the government, while possible compromises were publicly knocked-down. As decision-time arrived, the media campaign was silenced and replaced by discreet lobbying of the Treasury and No.10.

 

The results…
After an intense seven week campaign, which saw over 90 pieces of coverage (including 35 in the national media), Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt gave the scheme the go-ahead in March 2006. Since the scheme was approved, about
25 much-smaller schemes have been significantly reduced while three have
been cancelled altogether.

 

Rakesh Uppal, Consultant Cardiothoracic surgeon
"I am clear that without hanover the PFI would not have gone ahead.
Their strategic advice and political contacts were invaluable."