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 secretary of state position within the Government of the United Kingdom, as well as the leader of the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). The officeholder has responsibility for all health and social care matters in England, including England's National Health Service (NHS). Alongside the chief medical officer for England, the officeholder serves as the principal adviser to the prime minister of the United Kingdom on all health matters. The office forms part of the Cabinet of the United Kingdom.
The position can trace its roots back to the nineteenth century. It has had different names in the past, and has been a secretary of state position since 1968. For 30 years, from 1988 to 2018, the position was titled Secretary of State for Health, before prime minister Theresa May added Social Care to the title in the 2018 British cabinet reshuffle.
The postholder has two principal deputies: the minister of state for health and the minister of state for social care.
The current secretary of state for health and social care is Matt Hancock, since his appointment by then–Prime Minister Theresa May in July 2018. Hancock retained his position upon the elevation of Boris Johnson to Prime Minister.
Responsibilities.
Corresponding to what is generally known as a health minister in many other countries, the health secretary's remit includes the following:
History.
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 by the Ministry of Health Act 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.
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.
A small number of health issues remain reserved matters, that is, they are not devolved.
List of ministers.
Colour key (for political parties):