Blue Lozenge welcomes new Account Executive

We’re pleased to welcome Rose as the newest member of the Blue Lozenge team, joining us as our new Account Executive. 

Rose brings experience from legal, healthcare communications and mental health research, with a background that in policy development, research and volunteering in both sports and mental health. She will bring additional analytical insight and attention to detail to projects, while also building strong relationships with clients and colleagues alike. 

In her new role, Rose will work closely with our clients and the Blue Lozenge client services team, supporting the delivery of thoughtful and effective communications that make a positive impact in health and care. 

Maddie Pinkham, Client Services Team Leader at Blue Lozenge, said:

“We’re really excited to have Rose on board. Her mix of sector knowledge and practical experience means she’ll add real strength to our work with clients, and we’re looking forward to seeing the contribution she’ll make.” 

You can read more about Rose and the rest of the Blue Lozenge team here. 

Blue Lozenge Strategic Advisory Board 

Four industry leaders strengthen Blue Lozenge governance  

We are delighted to announce the launch of our Strategic Advisory Board. We’ve bought together an independent panel of senior healthcare and communication industry leaders to guide our next phase of growth.  The board will guide our service development and help ensure we continue to deliver communication solutions that give healthcare professionals more time to care and patients better experiences. 

Alongside then Blue Lozenge leadership team our strategic advisory board members are: 

Jim Donaldson, Chair – With over 30 years in communications consultancy, Jim has led campaigns and teams at some of the world’s leading PR agencies. He was previously CEO of the UK and Middle East at global consultancy FleishmanHillard and now undertakes a portfolio career as a non-executive adviser and mentor. 

Sarah Tedford, NHS CEO – An exceptional healthcare executive leader with a proven track record of delivering rapid organisational change across major NHS institutions and with experience in pharna. Sarah successfully navigated Covid-19 challenges and led transformational improvements.  

Matthew Hopkins, NHS CEO – Chief Executive of Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust and an experienced NHS leader, having previously served as CEO of multiple NHS trusts. Matthew began his career as a nurse in the NHS, bringing frontline perspective to strategic leadership. 

Suhail Mirza, Non-Executive Director – A globally recognised inclusive wellness coach with over 20 years of healthcare sector experience. Suhail is a bestselling author and created the W.I.S.D.O.M Programme™, helping leaders unlock clarity and achieve sustainable success and hosts the Voices of Care podcast. 

The board’s  first meeting discussed the government’s 10-year health plan and how our service portfolio can support the healthcare system during this period of significant transformation. 

Rachel Royall, our founder and CEO, commented:

“Launching our Strategic Advisory Board represents an important milestone in our journey. The expertise and insight these leaders bring will be invaluable as we continue to develop services that truly make a difference to healthcare organisations and the communities they serve. 

“Four years in, we’ve delivered over 150 projects for 50 clients, but our mission remains unchanged – we transform healthcare through strategic communication that gives professionals more time to care and patients better experiences. This board will help ensure we continue to innovate and respond to the evolving needs of the health and care system.” 

We are actively seeking to strengthen the board with representatives from patient advocacy and public health backgrounds. Healthcare professionals or patient representatives interested in contributing to this important work are invited to contact the board secretariat. 

For more information about joining our Strategic Advisory Board, contact Corinne Harrison, partnership manager, at corinne@bluelozenge.co.uk 

Welcome NHS communication leader Alenka Daniel

We’re delighted to strengthen our growing team with the appointment of NHS communication leader Alenka Daniel as Account Director.

Alenka, currently Head of Communications at Barts Health NHS Trust, joins us from Monday 23 June, bringing over a decade of frontline NHS communication experience to support our growing portfolio of healthcare clients. She will be working with our public health clients, driving behaviour change campaigns and building on our work to help reduce violence amongst children and young people. 

Alenka formerly led communications for one of the UK’s largest NHS trusts, overseeing the development of the communications strategy for five hospitals and advising executive leadership through complex system-wide challenges. Her expertise spans internal and digital communications, media relations, crisis communication, and stakeholder engagement. 

Her work has earned national recognition, including accolades from the Nursing Times Workforce Awards, Comms2Point0 UnAwards, and the Medical Journalists’ Association, as well as contributing to the BAFTA-nominated series Operation: Live.

Alenka Daniel commented:

“Blue Lozenge represents the future of strategic healthcare communications: bold, compassionate, and expert.

“I’m proud to be joining a team that’s making a tangible difference across the health and care sector.

“I look forward to helping our clients improve patient care and navigate the complex and evolving health landscape.”

Rachel Royall, CEO of Blue Lozenge, added:

“We’re really excited about Alenka joining our team. She is hugely values driven and a great personality to be around. She has an excellent track record In delivering impactful campaigns and I can’t wait for her to meet our clients.”.”

Alenka’s appointment reflects our continued investment in senior healthcare communications talent, if you’re looking for your next move we’d love to hear from you. And if you’re looking for strategic healthcare communication expertise to design and deliver your next campaign, view our services and get in touch hello@bluelozenge.co.uk 

Read the Press Release in PR Week

Supporting Excellence in Medical Journalism

Author: Maya Anaokar, Account Director

This year marks a special milestone for Blue Lozenge – we’re sponsoring the Medical Journalists’ Association Awards for the first time, specifically the Feature of the Year (Broadcast) award. 

Why the awards matter to us 

The MJA Awards matter because excellent health journalism saves lives. The best health reporters don’t just inform – they scrutinise, challenge and ultimately drive improvements that make care safer for everyone. For all the specialist communicators who work in-house across the health system, you know journalists rely on your ethics, energy and expertise.  

At a time when there is so much debate about the value of NHS communication, we want to champion the role communicators play in supporting journalists. Especially those journalists who go beyond soundbites and who dig deeper, research thoroughly, and transform complex health information into content that genuinely serves patients and communities. 

The power of stories 

Healthcare communication can be unnecessarily complex. We chose to sponsor the Feature of the Year (Broadcast) award to shine a light on the simplicity of storytelling. This award celebrates journalists who can distil intricate health stories into accessible, engaging content in just two minutes – a skill that’s both rare and vital. 

Our challenge to the sector 

We believe transparency, accountability and scrutiny make healthcare stronger. That’s why we support journalism that challenges the system to do better. We, therefore, have one ask for health journalists: stop accepting ‘a spokesperson says’ and demand named accountability from real people in senior positions across health and care.  

The public deserves transparency, and transparency drives better outcomes. 

Looking ahead 

In today’s healthcare environment, leaders face mounting responsibilities and relentless pressures. Strategic communication isn’t about spin – it’s about creating space for healthcare leaders to focus on what matters most: improving lives. When done well, it embraces scrutiny rather than avoiding it. 

We look forward to congratulating all MJA Awards nominees. Your work matters more than you know so get your entries in by 1 June. 

Blue Lozenge specialises in strategic healthcare communication and engagement. If you’re facing communication challenges that require transparency, accountability and trust, we’d love to help: corrine@bluelozenge.co.uk 

#HealthJournalism #NHSCommunications #MJAAwards #HealthcareCommunication #BlueLozenge