Three new ministers appointed at Department of Health

Three new junior health ministers have joined the Department of Health in the wake of new prime minister Theresa May’s cabinet reshuffle.

MPs Nicola Blackwood, Philip Dunne and David Mowat have joined the DH after health ministers Ben Gummer and Jane Ellison were promoted to other positions in government.

Ludlow MP Mr Dunne was named minister of state for health – second in command to health secretary Jeremy Hunt. He was previously minister of state for defence procurement at the Ministry of Defence.

MP for Oxford West and Abingdon Ms Blackwood, previously chair of the Commons science and technology committee, was appointed parliamentary under secretary of state.

Mr Mowat, MP for Warrington South, who was previously private secretary to former communities secretary Greg Clark, was also appointed parliamentary under secretary of state.

Staying in role

The new appointments come as Mr Hunt was asked to remain in his post, despite rumours he would be transferred elsewhere.

Meanwhile former minister for care quality Mr Gummer has moved to the cabinet office, and public health minister Ms Ellison has transferred to the treasury.

A DH spokesperson said it was too early to confirm the specific portfolios the new ministers would hold.

The three new ministers’ voting record on health include:

Philip Dunne

• Consistently voted against restricting the provision of services to private patients by the NHS Show votes.
• Consistently voted for reforming the NHS so that GPs buy services on behalf of their patients.
• Generally voted against smoking bans.
• Has never voted on allowing terminally ill people to be given assistance to end their life.

Nicola Blackwood

• Consistently voted against restricting the provision of services to private patients by the NHS.
• Consistently voted for reforming the NHS so that GPs buy services on behalf of their patients.
• Generally voted for smoking bans.
• Consistently voted against allowing terminally ill people to be given assistance to end their life.

David Mowat

• Consistently voted against restricting the provision of services to private patients by the NHS.
• Consistently voted for reforming the NHS so that GPs buy services on behalf of their patients.
• Voted a mixture of for and against smoking bans.
• Has never voted on allowing terminally ill people to be given assistance to end their life.