Harrison, head of media relations at charity Save the Children, is to join the commission in December and will head its six-strong in-house press office as media relations manager.
A spokesperson for the commission, which was set up in April, said Harrison’s appointment would allow it to take a more proactive approach to media relations as it introduces new ways to assess healthcare organisations’ performance.
Harrison’s role includes explaining the commission’s evaluation methods, which will be introduced after a consultation process with stakeholders, including the public, the NHS and private and voluntary health organisations, due to be completed by the year’s end.
Harrison arrives as the commission hunts for a head of internal and external relations. Freelance consultant Paul Vousden is filling the role on an interim basis.
