Two more ministers join DHSC

The appointments are part of the ongoing ministerial reshuffle by the new prime minister Liz Truss. 

Neil O’Brien, MP for Harborough in Leicestershire, was a minister for “levelling up” from September last year to July 2022. During the covid pandemic, Mr O’Brien has been a vocal champion in the Conservative party of the need for measures to control spread, highlighting pressures on the NHS.

He worked as an adviser to George Osborne as Chancellor and to Theresa May while she was prime minister. Before that, he was the director of the Policy Exchange think tank.

Caroline Johnson, MP for Sleaford and North Hykeham in Lincolnshire, is a consultant paediatrician who first qualified as a doctor in 2001. She reportedly continues to work part time at Peterborough City Hospital.

They join Therese Coffey, who has been appointed health and social care secretary as well as deputy prime minister, and ministers of state Robert Jenrick and Will Quince.

Mr Jenrick is expected to take additional day to day responsibility over NHS issues because of Ms Coffey’s DPM role; while Mr Quince is expected to cover social care.