Healthwatch England appoints comms and policy directors

Healthwatch England, the body to give patients and the general public a voice in the way health and social care services are run, has appointed two new directors to its senior team.

Claire Pimm moves from the Department of Health (DH) to become director of communications and engagement and Dr Marc Bush leaves disability charity Scope to take up the role of director of policy and intelligence.

They join a senior team headed by Dr Katherine Rake, who was appointed chief executive in December 2012, shortly after the body was formed as part of major reforms to the healthcare system in England.

Both new appointments have experience across the UK healthcare industry, with Pimm's most recent serving as head of brand management at the DH, holding responsibility for both the NHS and DH brands.

Previous roles include senior communications experience in the charity sector as head of communications at Bliss to support premature babies and head of communication at mental health charity Mind.

Dr Bush (pictured right) was head of research and public policy at Scope, having previously served as senior public policy adviser on children and youth policy.

Commenting on the appointments Dr Rake said: “I am delighted to have in place these two pivotal roles to drive the communications and engagement strategic direction of Healthwatch England into its next phase.

“Claire and Marc both bring with them a wealth of experience of health and social care issues and I am really excited that they will be joining the team.”