Earlier today we carried out our real-time interview with NHS Salford’s Head of Communications, Karl Brookes, for an hour via Twitter.

We started with a bang at noon, and questions started to roll in immediately and near constantly for the following hour. With a current headcount of 262 tweets from 66 participants, it’s been a great discussion so far.

You can view a full transcript of the interview here, but we’ve pulled out some of the most interesting questions and answers below.

If you’d like to know more about how it went and what we felt we learnt, join us again on Twitter tomorrow at noon for a de-brief as part of the weekly #hcsmeu (Health Care Social Media Europe) debate.

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Q vikkichowney: Here we go! @nhssalford Where’s the incentive to start using social media coming from? Within? Or externally? #nhssm

A nhssalford: The initiative is driven by NHS Salford in response to 20+% of residents asking that we communicate with them electronically #nhssm

Q devindigital: @nhssalford Does NHS Salford have plans to proliferate use of Twitter and use tools like Twitpic for remote patient diagnostics? #nhssm

A nhssalford: Hi @devindigital, that falls into the ‘future uses’ category – there’d be a lot of issues e.g. confidentiality to think through #nhssm

Q georgiec: What does that mean for resources – have you got someone that actively manages your channels? #nhssm

A nhssalford: Hi @georgiec – we use a team rota within existing resources to do it + those who are more keen tend to chip in #nhssm

Q georgiec: Were guidelines put in place to remain consistent across all channels? #nhssm

A nhssalford: @georgiec We do use a house style and tone, but were keen to ensure we didn’t use too ‘fixed’ a way as we felt not appropriate to SM #nhssm

Q jedhallam: @nhssalford So what’s the core objective for engagement online? #nhssm

A nhssalford: @jedhallam SM is another communication channel we’re active on, in the same way as other communications e.g media #nhssm

Q jedhallam: @nhssalford So will you be using as a mass channel or niche? IE pushing news or individ response – (both are fine, obv) #nhssm

A nhssalford: @jedhallam We’re looking to expand our presence to all those we are proud to serve in Salford, but all are welcome #nhssm

Q peterashe: Twitter guidelines? There’s a good Whitehall one (albeit 22 pages long!) – adaptable if need be? #nhssm

A nhssalford: @peterashe Guidelines are useful but we’ve tried to not come across as stuffed shirts as we think this would alienate SM users #nhssm

Q caroliont: How do you see NHS using social media internally? #nhssm

A nhssalford: @caroliont Looked at Yammer but security was an issue…so revamping our intranet to give more of an SM feel, with IM facility etc #nhssm

Q mike_mcgrail: Do you have a SM policy in place? #nhssm

A nhssalford: @mike_mcgrail We have a style policy and some strategic objectives e.g. to raise the profile of @nhssalford #nhssm

Q devindigital: @nhssalford Do you think NHS preventative medicine messages will benefit from exposure on YouTube via forthcoming Google TV? #nhssm

A nhssalford: @devindigital  The #NHS should always be communicating via forums that people use. We should be where the audience is #nhssm

Q vikkichowney: @nhssalford Ok, I see what you mean. Last question then! How are you planning to link up with other NHS bodies re: good practice? #nhssm

A nhssalford: @vikkichowney We’re very much taking a just do it approach- we know that a lot of trusts are struggling to get SM off the ground #nhssm

A nhssalford: But our advice is to go for it, the skies haven’t fallen in for us #nhssm

A nhssalford: And there are always reasons for not doing something, but true innovation occurs when people have the courage to try these things #nhssm