A CAMPAIGN that helps to relieve pressure on the NHS by using the power of rugby league has been shortlisted for two prestigious awards.

The ‘Beat The Scrum’ campaign is featured in the best primary care innovation and best acute care innovation categories at the Health Service Journal (HSJ) awards, which gives recognition to the UK’s healthcare sector.

Past and present Widnes Vikings stars, and legends of St Helens and Warrington Wolves, unite to help educate the public on how to choose the right services when they are injured or ill.

The rugby stars take part in a number of online and PR campaigns, which aim to inform and inspire the public.

They raise awareness of how, by choosing walk-in or urgent care centres instead of A and E departments, people can save themselves time and take pressure off hospitals.

The programme has been commissioned by the Mid-Mersey A and E Delivery Board and supported by Renova Developments, a specialist estates provider for the NHS.

Mel Pickup, chief executive of Warrington and Halton Hospitals, said: “Beat the Scrum has been a really innovative campaign that has taken our ‘Make the Right Call (Choose Well)’ messages to a very diverse audience, many of whom we have struggled to reach in the past.

“By making the campaign totally relevant to fans, the fun and impactful short films have been widely viewed and shared across multiple channels.”

James Rule, CEO of Widnes Vikings, said: “It’s been an honour for our club to be part of a campaign that makes such a big difference to local NHS services and our communities.

“To know that the hard work of everyone who has contributed to the campaign has been recognised at a such prestigious event is something that we can all be proud of.”