Chris Whitehouse, a political consultant and expert on medical technology policy and regulation at Whitehouse Communications, reports on the appointment of two Ministers of State at the DHSC.
New UK Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, has confirmed that Karin Smyth MP will remain as Minister of State in the Department for Health and Social Care and has appointed Dame Diana Johnson DBE MP to replace Stephen Kinnock MP, who previously held that role but who has now been appointed Secretary of State for Wales.
It is likely that Dame Diana will lead on the reform of social care, to which Andy Burnham has long been committed, leaving Karin Smyth to continue to focus on health. Dame Diana is a former Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Haemophilia and Contaminated blood, and recently championed further liberalisation of the law on abortion.
Karin Smyth was first appointed to her Ministerial position by Sir Keir Starmer after Labour’s general election victory in July 2024, and has led on policy for secondary care.
At the time of writing, we are still awaiting confirmation of two more junior ministers to join new Health Secretary, Yvette Cooper’s, team at the Department.
The Author used AI in preparing this article. Comments upon or questions about this article can be addressed to chris.whitehouse@whitehousecomms.com.
