All regional and national press and media enquiries should be directed to the central Department of Health Newsdesk.
Newsdesk - 020 7210 5221
The Newsdesk is the first point of contact for all media enquiries, supplying information on breaking news stories and planned announcements. The Newsdesk also deals with interview requests.
Monday to Friday 8am to 7pm
Out of hours - 07050 073 581
Please contact the duty press officer for out of hours media calls.
Weekdays - 7pm to 8am
Weekends - all hours
Public enquiries
Members of the public should contact the Customer Service Centre for enquiries.
020 7210 4850
The Director General of Communications for the Department of Health is Sian Jarvis.
Acting Head of News, Elisabeth Vanderstock - 020 7210 5821
Acting Deputy Head of News, Kate Pike - 020 7210 5703
Chief Press Officer, Kirsty Gelsthorpe - 020 7210 5738
Senior Press Officer, James Hotson - 020 7210 5222
Press Officer, Julia Harris - 020 7210 5221
Press Officer, Lydia Martin - 020 7210 5221
Press Officer, Adam Joyce - 020 7210 5221
Press Officer, Joanna Humphrey - 020 7210 5221
Media Officer, 020 7210 4939
Chief Press Officer, Juliette Marshall - 020 7210 5317
Responsible for the policy portfolios of Simon Burns and Lord Howe. The team also leads on media relations for David Nicholson, Chief Executive of the NHS and his senior leadership team.
Media Officer, Nadina Mustafa - 020 7210 5239
NHS desk (Lord Howe)
Media handling advisors for Lord Howe, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Quality (Lords)
Media handling advice for policy on:
NHS Constitution; NHS Commissioning Reform including NHS Board, Improving Health Outcomes, HealthWatch, Quipp, Quality Framework and Specialised Commissioning; Primary Care including GP Contract, Out of Hours, Dentistry and Optical Services; Medicines, Pharmacy and Industry including work with the MHRA and NICE; R&D; Innovation; Finance including DEL & spending review and PCT allocations; Arm’s Length Bodies.
Senior Press Officer, Anna Litherland - 020 7210 4990
Press Officer, Maria Mansfeld - 020 7210 5301
Press Officer, Peter Donelan - 020 7210 5281
NHS desk (Simon Burns)
Media handling advice for Simon Burns, Minister of State for Health
Media handling advice for policy on: NHS Financial, performance and capital funding; Health service including community services, acute services, emergency & urgent care, cardiac, stroke & renal; reconfiguration; veterans’ health; patient safety including HCAIs and work with NPSA; Patient experience; NHS Litigation; Quality regulation including work with CQC; Economic regulation including work with Monitor; NHS Workforce including pay & pensions; NHS Estates including mixed sex accommodation; Connecting for Health; Counter Fraud & Security Management; Injury Cost Recovery Scheme; NHS Income Generation & NHS Appointments; Hospital Travel Costs; Procurement including ISTCs.
Senior Press Officer -
Press Officer, Emma Smyth - 020 7210 5375
Press Officer, Suzannah Brookner - 020 7210 5010
Press Officer, Ed Smith - 020 7210 5435
Chief Press Officer, Jane Garvan - 020 7210 5197
Media Officer, Suzanne O'Brien - 020 7210 5656
Responsible for policy portfolios of Paul Burstow and Anne Milton as well as media relations for the Chief Medical Officer and all health matters relating to emergency preparedness.
Public Health desk
Media advisors for Anne Milton, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Public Health
Media handling advice for policy on: Public health including health improvement & protection, health inequalities, communicable diseases; Emergency preparedness; Vaccination and immunisation; Blood & transplants; Pathology; Ethics; Fertility & embryology; Sexual health; Genetics & biotechnology; Fluoridation; Tobacco, drugs & alcohol; Food including diet & nutrition; Complementary and alternative medicines; International & EU matters; Asylum seekers’ health; Children’s health; Maternity Services; Nursing & Midwifery; Health visiting; Professional Regulation; Medical Education & Training.
Senior Press Officer, Judith Moore - 020 7210 5649
Senior Press Officer, Shaun Whelan - 020 7210 5658
Press Officer, Nick Johnson - 020 7210 5623
Press Officer, Shumon Rahman - 020 7210 5231
Social care desk
Media advisors for Paul Burstow, Minister of State for Care Services
Media handling advice for policy on: Long-term care reform; Adult social care; Social care finance, workforce, professional regulation & inspection; Personal health budgets; Continuing care & carers; Safeguarding vulnerable adults; Care for the elderly; Malnutrition; End of life care; Long-term conditions including cancer and diabetes; Audiology; Dementia; Mental health including CAMHS; Physical disabilities; Autism & learning disabilities; Third Sector.
Senior Press Officer, Sharan Chaggar - 020 7210 5329
Press Officer, Katrina Coutts - 020 7210 5724
Press Officer, Sarah Read - 020 7210 5472
Responsible for scheduling all Department of Health announcements and related business, including monitoring business generated by external organisations.
Senior Planning Officer, Emily Brown - 020 7210 5290
Planning Officer, Glenn Covacic - 020 7210 4984
Commissioning and delivering proactive regional and consumer media relations activities across all policy areas.
Chief Press Officer, Jennie Hay - 020 7210 5224
Senior Press Officer (Consumer portfolio), Alison Langley - 020 7210 5947
Senior Press Officer (Regional portfolio), Niken Wresniwiro - 020 7210 5962
Press Officer, Alex Macdonald - 020 7210 5282
Responsible for promoting the provision of more information for patients to enable greater control over their healthcare, through the use of modern technology and services like NHS Choices. Also managing the media for NHS IT which supports healthcare professionals and patients in delivering healthcare, including telehealth and telecare technology. Includes the National Information Governance Board which advises on confidentiality and information security issues.
Head of Media Relations, Eileen Phillips - 020 7969 5924
Chief Press Officer, Briony Bowen - 020 7004 1507
Chief Press Officer, Omar Qirem - 020 7210 5081
Senior Press Officer, Deepa Shah - 020 7004 1503
Writing major speeches for Department of Health’s senior ministers, improving speechwriting and writing skills across the department.
Speechwriter, 020 7210 5238
Speechwriter, Mark Morris - 020 7210 4982
Speechwriter, Robert Coppin - 020 7210 5447
Operations Support Manager, Esther Clarke - 020 7210 5004
Admin and IT support to the Press Office including arranging press briefings, distribution of press notices and statements, amending and maintaining contact lists, provision of newspaper cuttings, specialist magazines and broadcast footage.
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