Health advertising: it’s nothing alien to The Bridge.

Speculation is mounting within the Scottish marketing community that NHS24 is to award its advertising campaign to The Bridge in Glasgow.
The account for the health consultation service was put out to tender around six months ago and the pitch list was whittled down to just four agencies – The Bridge, Faulds, The Leith Agency and The Union – who went head to head in a pitch last month.
When approached about the appointment, Brian Crook, MD of The Bridge, denied that a decision had been made by NHS24 marketing chief Mark Salveta. Crook added that it would not be until 22 May, at the earliest, that an official decision would be announced.
Meanwhile, it is understood that the client has circulated a letter informing the other three agencies that they have been unsuccessful in their bids for the business.
The Bridge has been working with NHS24 on a pilot project, an opportunity which it picked up last year, in the Grampian Health Region. The campaign, estimated to be worth up to £50,000, involves posters, leaflets and below-the-line activity.
The Bridge is perhaps the best equipped agency to handle the NHS24 advertising account after handling a range of successful and high-profile campaigns for HEBS during the last five years.
Margaret Brannan, communications manager at NHS24, confirmed that a recommendation for an agency had been made. However, it would have to be agreed by the board before an official announcement could be made.