NHS England appoints new media and public affairs head

NHS England has announced the appointment of James Lyons as its new head of media and public affairs.

Mr Lyons, an experienced political journalist, is expected to begin his role in February and will be tasked with overseeing the health service's media and public affairs teams, reports PRWeek.

Currently employed as deputy political editor at the Sunday Times, Mr Lyons previously served as deputy political editor at the Daily Mirror from 2007 to 2014, giving him considerable insight into the various challenges the NHS is facing.

In this new role, Mr Lyons will report to NHS director of comms Simon Enright, who is now the most senior comms figure within the health service following September's departure of former director of external affairs Helen Birtwhistle.

The appointment coincides with a period of considerable scrutiny on the government's NHS policies, with the British Red Cross recently saying the current pressures on the hospital and ambulance services are tantamount to a humanitarian crisis.

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