Portland appoints lead for new health communications practice

The current director of communications at the NHS Confederation, Louise Fish, will join Portland Communications in March to lead the firm's new healthcare offering.

Portland Health will provide health and social care business with communications support, including:

• Strategic communications advice to organisations across the health and social care sectors
• Policy and public affairs advice to clients looking to navigate the changing healthcare landscape post Health & Social Care Act implementation
• Political intelligence and local government engagement advice to organisations who need to engage with local authorities and health and wellbeing boards
• Market access support including NICE approvals
• Regulatory Affairs support for health organisations engaging with the competition authorities or healthcare regulators, as well stakeholder engagement and communications support for regulators themselves.

"NHS reform, particularly the changes to commissioning and the localisation of public health, is transforming the healthcare sector beyond recognition," said Portland Communications managing director, Tim Allan.

"Meanwhile, the issues surrounding public health have never been more in the public eye, with consumer and patient groups demanding more action from business.

"While Portland has long advised clients on health related issues, the creation of Portland Health will enable us to provide the specialist advice that companies adapting to such dramatic change need.


"One of the most seasoned health communicators in the business, Louise is ideally place to drive forward this new team," he said.

Fish will lead a team of healthcare communicators with experience in political, media and digital counsel.

During her 18-year career in public relations and communications, Fish has spent three years as a communications officer for the Liberal Democrats, worked as a communications consultant for Fishburn Hedges and later Hanover and nearly seven years as director of communications at the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE).

She has communicated complex clinical and health economic information about high profile topics, ranging from funding fertility treatment to tackling obesity, to politicians, journalists, health and care professionals, patients and the public.

Commenting on her appointment, Fish said: "I am delighted to be joining Portland at such an exciting time.

"No other agency in London has the mix of clients and consultants that Portland has been able to bring together over the last few years and I look forward to growing the health business as part of that team."