Secretary of State for Health and Social Care sets out plans
The new Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has set out his plans for the NHS. In his first speech after his official appointment, Wes Streeting said the new Government would begin negotiations in a bid to end strike action. Read the full speech here. Mr Streeting also said the Department of Health and Social Care will expand its focus to boost economic growth. Read the full announcement here.
Ministers in the Department of Health and Social Care
The following ministers have now been appointed in the Department of Health and Social Care. This list is correct as of 10 July 2024. Click on each name to see more details.
- Wes Streeting MP, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
- Stephen Kinnock MP, Minister of State
- Karin Smyth MP, Minister of State
- Andrew Gwynne MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
- Baroness Merron, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
Pre-election pledges and priorities
The King's Fund has a useful summary of pre-election pledges from the three main parties here. Meanwhile, a Nuffield Trust article discusses what was missing from pre-election debates and promises. It warns the campaign left the NHS facing an "uncertain dawn".
A blog by IPSOS analyses how voters perceive the NHS and its use of privatisation. The NHS Confederation has called for a whole-of-government approach to tackling the causes of long-term sickness and economic inactivity. It says no one government can tackle this alone and the Prime Minister should declare improving health outcomes a cross-government priority with binding targets.