Andrew Lansley has been appointed to the role of Secretary of State for Health, under David Cameron’s newly formed Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government.
Andrew Lansley, Secretary of State for Health
(Picture: Conservative party)
Lansley held the position of Shadow Secretary of State for Health since 2003 under the Conservative’s then party leader, Michael Howard. In 2008, he was named the eighth most influential person in the Health Service Journal (HSJ)‘s report: ‘Fifty People with the Greatest Influence on Today’s NHS Policy and Practice’.
Lansley will take over the post from outgoing Health Secretary Andy Burnham, who was appointed to the position in June 2009.
The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats have published a coalition agreement document outlining agreements reached between the two parties on a range of issues. With regards to health, the coalition state: “The parties agree that funding for the NHS should increase in real terms in each year of the Parliament, while recognising the impact this decision would have on other departments.” A more detailed document is expected to follow.