Wes Streeting resigned this afternoon as health secretary.
Streeting was appointed by the new Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, when Labour took power in July 2024.
Streeting resigned at 1pm and posted his resignation letter on X.com.
It’s likely his resignation will precipitate changes to existing roles within the Department of Health and Social Care (DH), which could impact Stephen Kinnock, whose current portfolio as minister of state for care incorporates community pharmacy.
The DH is currently in negotiations with Community Pharmacy England as it seeks to agree a new funding deal for the sector.
Reacting to the news, Independent Pharmacies Association CEO Dr Leyla Hannbeck said she hoped the “next Health Secretary engages seriously with community pharmacy and delivers the support pharmacies urgently need”.
She added the IPA hopes to “have a constructive relationship with his replacement at a critical time for this sector” and “we look forward to working with his successor.”
And National Pharmacy Association (NPA) chief executive Henry Gregg said pharmacies are “still in the dark about their funding for this financial year, which began a month and a half ago.
“It would be very damaging to the pharmacy network if political uncertainty was to delay a financial settlement which is already hopelessly late.
“These political events should not detract from the focus we need on stabilising the pharmacy network. We look forward to working with the future health secretary to help address these vital issues.”
This is a developing story, with more to follow...
