New Health Secretary announced

Steve Barclay MP has been announced as the new Secretary of State for Health and Social Care in Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s new cabinet.

Barclay, who held the same position between 5 July and 6 September 2022 before being replaced by Thérèse Coffey, was announced as the new Health Secretary yesterday (25 October.)

He also held the position of Minister of State for the Department of Health and Social Care between January and November 2018.

Liz Truss ally Thérèse Coffey has moved to take on the role of Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs as a result of the reshuffle.

The NHS Confederation has congratulated Barclay on his appointment, but has warned that “we need to be realistic about what the NHS can deliver with the staff and resources made available.”

NHS Confederation chief executive, Matthew Taylor, said: “On behalf of our members, we offer our congratulations to Rt Hon Steve Barclay MP as he takes on the role of Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.

“Mr Barclay is no stranger to the many challenges facing the NHS, but in the short time that he has been away, these issues have intensified significantly. There are now over 132,000 vacancies across the NHS, the waiting list for elective treatment stands at over 7 million people in England, and emergency care services are running incredibly hot, all of which mean patients are not getting the care they need in a timely manner.”

Taylor emphasised that supporting England’s 42 integrated care systems to successfully deliver for their communities and managing the “increasing likelihood of industrial action from the frontline” would define Barclay’s role, and added that the NHS Confederation hopes he will "engage constructively in these conversations.”

Taylor added: “We look forward to engaging with Mr Barclay in his new role once again.”

AOP chief executive, Adam Sampson said: “We extend our congratulations to Rt Hon Steve Barclay MP as he takes on the role of Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.

"Last week we were delighted to see MPs from all political parties attend the Westminster Eye Health Day event, hosted by the AOP alongside The Eyes Have It partners. With one in every hundred patients on hospital waiting lists in England because of the current shortage of ophthalmologists, it is absolutely vital a national plan for eye health is put in place.

"We hope Mr Barclay supports this call to action – ensuring patients get the access to eye care they deserve.”