What’s happened 

The government has announced new ministerial appointments in the Department for Health and Social Care following Yvette Cooper's confirmation as Health Secretary and Andy Burnham's appointment as Prime Minister. 

• Alison McGovern MP has been appointed Minister of State.  

• James Frith MP has been appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State. 

• Baroness Merron remains Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State.  

• The Rt Hon Dame Diana Johnson DBE MP has been appointed Minister of State.  

• Karin Smyth MP has been re-appointed Minister of State. 

Why this matters to members 

The Royal College of Podiatry works with ministers and parliamentarians across all four UK nations to promote the profession and influence health policy. 

The College supports podiatrists and their patients by making the case for policies that improve foot health services, workforce development and patient care. 

The College has already written to the new Secretary of State for Health and Social Care and will now begin engaging with the wider ministerial team following these appointments. 

What happens next 

The Department of Health and Social Care has said it will announce ministers' individual portfolios shortly. The New Podiatrist will provide an update once these responsibilities have been confirmed. 

Links and references 

GOV.UK: Ministerial Appointments: July 2026