KeystoneUSA-Zuma / Rex Features
New health minister Alistair Burt has taken over responsibility for pharmacy from former health minister Earl Howe.
As Minister of State for Community and Social Care, Burt — a former deputy chairman of the Conservative party and former junior minister at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office — will also have responsibility for GP contract and out of hours reform, older people, adult social care and integration of care services.
Another new member of David Cameron’s health team is the current chief executive of the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and former Tory MP for North Norfolk David Prior.
Prior, who has been given a life peerage in order to take up his new role, becomes minister for NHS productivity. Prior, whose father was former Tory MP Jim Prior, will step down from the CQC to take up his ministerial role.
Along with Burt, he joins Ben Gummer MP, who replaces Dan Poulter as a junior health minister.
Jeremy Hunt retained his job as health secretary, as did Jane Ellison who stays on as public health minister and George Freeman who continues as life sciences minister.
