Media, PR and Communications

Our Media, PR and Communications team manage all media enquiries relating to our hospitals, staff and patients.

All media must be accompanied by a member of the team whilst on the hospital site, so please do speak to us in advance to make sure we are available.

Contact Us

For enquiries during normal office hours, please contact: Tel: 0151 430 2505

Assistant Director of Communications

• Kim Hughes

Heads of Communications

• Lynsey Thomas
• Derek Quinn

​If you are calling out of hours, please contact the hospital's switchboard on Tel 0151 426 1600 and they will direct your call appropriately.

Journalists who would like to be added to our media distribution lists are welcome to contact us via email: communications@sthk.nhs.uk

Trust Spokespeople

We accept requests for an official comment from the hospital or for a spokesperson to talk about a particular patient, condition or treatment. We'll respond as quickly as possible but please be aware we receive a high volume of requests every week.

Photographs and Interviews

Media representatives must not access our hospital sites without the consent of the Media, PR and Communications team, and must be accompanied by a member of the media team whilst on site. Please contact us in advance to co-ordinate your visit.

We will arrange all photography or interviews with patients and families, but only if consent is given. Access will also be dependent on the patient's condition and with the permission of staff involved in that patient's care. We are unable to arrange any photography or interviews outside office hours.

Written parental consent must be taken by our team before photographing or filming anyone under the age of 16.

Cameras, video and social media

Cameras and videos

Cameras and mobile phone cameras must not be used to photograph other patients, patient records and information, and data or information belonging to the Trust, including images of screens. This is to protect the privacy and dignity of patients and staff.

The Trust understands that there may be occasions where patients want a procedure filmed. All such requests must be made in writing to the clinical team and agreed by all parties beforehand. The Trust reserves the right to refuse or withdraw permission to film.

There is no need for photos to be taken of clinical records. All patients have a right to access their information. Please see the Access to Your Health Records section.

Social media

Patients and visitors are asked to be considerate when posting on social media while in hospital – in particular, the posting of images which could compromise other patients’ privacy.

Staff are encouraged to challenge what they consider to be inappropriate online behaviour and will report their concerns. Any subsequent abuse directed at staff will also be acted on.

Staff should not be contacted on social media. It is against professional codes of conduct for staff to engage with patients in this manner.

Filming

The Trust has been involved in several TV programmes in recent years and we welcome opportunities to be a part of new projects. If you have a proposal for filming as part of a documentary or series please email it to us for consideration. 

Freedom of Information Requests

FOI requests aren't handled by the Media, PR and Communications team.

If you have an FOI request please visit our Freedom of Information pages.