Stephen Kinnock has revealed that he will be the new minister in charge of pharmacy in a post on X (formerly Twitter) today (July 12).
Kinnock was announced as minister of state for care at the DH earlier this week (July 8), but his responsibilities were not made clear at the time.
A DH spokesperson confirmed to C+D today that Kinnock's portfolio will include pharmacy.
"Busy first week"
Kinnock said on Monday that he was “truly honoured” to be appointed.
In an X post published at noon today, the Labour MP for Aberafan Maesteg said that his role covered “adult social care, primary care and community care”.
“We'll be working relentlessly to address challenges and seize opportunities for change across the portfolio,” he announced, adding that he has had a "busy first week" in the new role.
Read more: Political Pills: What awaits the new pharmacy minister?
In the previous government, responsibility for primary care fell to a more junior level of minister - a parliamentary under-secretary of state.
According to Kinnock’s official ministerial page, he is also responsible for community health including neighbourhood health services, hospital and community discharge, health and social care integration, end of life and palliative care, disabilities and special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and dementia.
Read more: Prime Minister Keir Starmer reveals new health secretary
Meanwhile, Labour MP for Bristol South Karin Smyth was also announced on the same day as minister of state for health.
Smyth’s page lists her as minister of state for secondary care, whose responsibilities include medicines regulation, pricing and supply and prescribing.
Read more: Pharmacy minister Andrea Leadsom to stand down as MP
Last week, the pharmacy negotiator said that it would seek “early meetings” with new government ministers but that negotiations on a new pharmacy funding deal could be “weeks” away.
And in an exclusive opinion piece for C+D, former pharmacy minister and health committee chair Steve Brine has mapped out what the person in the hot seat could expect to face in the first weeks on the job.
