Secretary of State for Health and Social Care


The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, also referred to as the Health Secretary, is a senior Minister of the Crown within the Government of the United Kingdom, and head of the Department of Health and Social Care with responsibility for England's National Health Service. The office forms part of the British Cabinet.
The current Secretary of State for Health and Social Care is Matt Hancock, MP. since his appointment by then Prime Minister Theresa May, in July 2018.

Responsibilities

Corresponding to what is generally known as a health minister in many other countries, the Health Secretary's remit includes:
Since devolution in 1999, the position holder's responsibility for the NHS is mainly restricted to the health service in England, with the holder's counterparts in Scotland and Wales responsible for the NHS in Scotland and Wales. Prior to devolution, the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Wales had those respective responsibilities, but the Department of Health had a larger role than now in the co-ordination of health policy across Great Britain. Health services in Northern Ireland have always had separate arrangements from the rest of the UK, and are currently the responsibility of the Health Minister in the Northern Ireland Executive.
The first Boards of Health were created by Orders in Council dated 21 June, 14 November and 21 November 1831. In 1848, a General Board of Health was created with the First Commissioner of Woods and Forests as its president. In 1854, this Board was reconstituted and the President appointed separately. However, the Board was abolished in 1858 and its function of overseeing the local boards was transferred to a new Local Government Act Office within the Home Office. From 1871, that function was transferred to the new Local Government Board.
The Ministry of Health was created in 1919 as a reconstruction of the Local Government Board. Local government functions were eventually transferred to the Minister of Housing and Local Government, leaving the Health Ministry in charge of Health proper.
From 1968, it was amalgamated with the Ministry of Social Security under the Secretary of State for Social Services, until a de-merger of the Department of Health and Social Security on 25 July 1988.

List of Ministers

Colour key :

President of the Board of Health (1848–1858)

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! colspan=2|Prime Minister
! colspan=6|As First Commissioner of Woods and Forests
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! colspan=6|As First Commissioner of Works
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! colspan=6|President of the Board of Health
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Minister of Health (1919–1968)

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! colspan=2|Prime Minister
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Secretary of State for Health and Social Services (1968–1988)

! colspan=2|Name
! Portrait
! colspan=2|Term of office
! Political party
! colspan=2|Prime Minister
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Secretary of State for Health (1988–2018)

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! colspan=2|Prime Minister
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Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (2018–present)

! colspan=2|Name
! Portrait
! colspan=2|Term of office
! Political party
! colspan=2|Prime Minister