Magazine launch and editorial development

The aim was to produce a serious but accessible magazine for member of Managers in Partnership, the union for senior NHS managers. We wanted to put together a magazine that would sit between existing news-driven publications and academic journals. The result was a compact and cost-effective quarterly magazine offering a mix of in-depth features, interviews with key NHS figures and forward-looking information for working NHS managers.

Lexographic partner Craig Ryan contributes regularly to the magazine and acts as associate editor, working with MiP’s head of communications to commission content, edit and rewrite copy and plan future issues. As well as designing and sourcing pictures for each issue, we handle the contracts for printing and mailing services and manage the budget to ensure costs are kept under control.

Now in its eighth year, Healthcare Manager has been very well received by members and the NHS management community, and has become a valuable recruitment and marketing tool for MiP. We have attracted contributions from and interviews with many leading NHS figures including former NHS chief executive Sir David Nicholson, health select committee chair Stephen Dorrell MP and shadow health secretary Andy Burnham. An online version of the magazine, featuring page-turning technology and the ability to link to and download individual articles, was launched in 2012 and is proving increasingly popular.

Following the retirement of MiP's head of communications in December 2015, Craig was able to step in as acting editor until a successor is appointed.

Healthcare Manager has come in within budget every year and we have published each issue within the agreed schedule.