Department of Health seeks new director of comms

The Department of Health has commenced a search for a new director of communications as it seeks to handle the PR challenges facing the NHS at present.

A search process has been kicked off ahead of the departure of the incumbent Sam Lister, who it was confirmed last month will be moving to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills in the summer, reports PRWeek.

The new recruit will be tasked with managing comms for the department and will also be responsible for strategy and budgets across 20 related agencies, heading up a 100-strong team and working directly with health secretary Jeremy Hunt.

Candidates with a background in health and social care are not specifically being sought, with the department more keen to prioritise those with track records of managing comms in high-profile arenas, as well people with the ability to disseminate key messages.

The eventual appointee will be stepping into the role at a time when the NHS is undergoing transformative structural reforms in order to achieve seven-day service provision, while plans to integrate health and social care services by 2020 are also being enacted.