Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran has been elected as the chair of the new health and social care select committee (HSCC), parliament announced this week (September 9).

Moran has represented Oxford West and Abingdon since 2017 and serves as the Lib Dem spokesperson for foreign affairs and international development and for science, innovation and technology.

She takes over as HSCC chair from Steve Brine, who did not stand in the July general election, and was elected to the position unopposed.

Read more: Political Pills: Crunch time for community pharmacy

Moran said that the HSCC’s role as a “critical friend” to the government has “never been more important”, as she noted the parlous state of the NHS, including “overstretched” doctors and nurses. 

She added that she will “constructively challenge ministers and the department to deliver” and will “find common ground across the political spectrum” as chair.

“I look forward to running a committee that champions the voice of patients and frontline health and social care staff,” she said.

Read more: Lib Dems pledge 'fairer' funding and ‘more pharmacist prescribing rights’

In the run up to the general election, the Lib Dems pledged to secure “a fairer and more sustainable long-term funding model for pharmacies” and “build on the Pharmacy First approach to give patients more accessible routine services”.

The party led by Sir Ed Davey also promised to expand pharmacists’ “prescribing rights” if elected - a manifesto item that it shared with the Labour Party.

Following Labour’s victory, Wes Streeting was appointed as health secretary and Stephen Kinnock appointed as the pharmacy minister.