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# Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, appoints new Health Secretary
- URL: https://med-techinsights.com/prime-minister-andy-burnham-appoints-new-health-secretary/
- Published: 2026-07-23T06:55:21.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T02:32:09.000Z
- Description: Chris Whitehouse, a political consultant and expert on medical technology policy and regulation at Whitehouse Communications, flags the appointment of a new Health Secretary. The UK’s new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, has today announced the appointment of Yvette Cooper as his new Secretary of State
- Author: Oliver Johnson
- Tags: Insights, Policy & Regulation, People & Appointments

###### [*Chris Whitehouse*](https://med-techinsights.com/tag/chris-whitehouse/)*, a political consultant and expert on medical technology policy and regulation at* [*Whitehouse Communications*](http://www.whitehousecomms.com/?ref=med-techinsights.com)*, flags the appointment of a new Health Secretary.*

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The UK’s new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, has today announced the appointment of [Yvette Cooper](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yvette%5FCooper?ref=med-techinsights.com) as his new Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to drive forward his government’s priorities for reform of the sector across England.

Plans, [as I wrote previously](https://med-techinsights.com/2026/06/22/what-might-an-andy-burnham-premiership-mean-for-health-social-care-and-medtech-policy/), are likely to include delivery of a new strategy for the future of social care, greater devolution of health and social care, and a clearer focus on prevention and removing health inequalities.

Having served in the past as both Home Secretary and Foreign Secretary, Cooper has substantial experience at the highest level of government, but, interestingly, she has not recently held ministerial positions dealing with health and social care, although she did in fact start her ministerial career as a junior health minister, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, back in 1999, moving on from that position in 2002.

Undoubtedly talented and intelligent, she will bring new ideas and experience of delivering change to the role.

Further appointments of ministers at the Department of Health and Social Care are expected over the next few days. We are watching out, in particular, for allocation of responsibilities for medtech, life sciences, innovation and prevention.

*The Author used AI in preparing this article. Comments upon or questions about this article can be addressed to* [*chris.whitehouse@whitehousecomms.com*](mailto:chris.whitehouse@whitehousecomms.com)*.*