Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Mental Health and Women's Health Strategy

United Kingdom Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Mental Health and Women's Health Strategy
Royal Arms of His Majesty's Government
Incumbent Gillian Merron since 5 July 2024
Department of Health and Social Care
Nominator	Prime Minister
Appointer	The Monarch on advice of the Prime Minister
Term length	At His Majesty's pleasure
Website	www.gov.uk/government/ministers/parliamentary-under-secretary-of-state--197

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Mental Health and Women's Health Strategy is a ministerial position within the Government of the United Kingdom, in charge of mental health and women's health policy.[1]

History

Following the general election in June 2017, Prime Minister Theresa May appointed Jackie Doyle-Price as the UK's first minister with responsibility for mental health. The portfolio was further expanded in October 2018, on World Mental Health Day, to include suicide prevention. This occurred while the UK government hosted the first ever global mental health summit.[2]

In July 2019, Nadine Dorries was appointed to the position in the incoming Johnson ministry, with additional responsibility for patient safety.[3][4] As minister, Dorries assumed responsibility for the government's response to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on people's mental health.[5] The minister committed to an increase in government spending on mental health as a result of the lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic.[6] In May 2020, the position was raised from Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State to Minister of State.[7]

During the cabinet reshuffle in September 2021, Gillian Keegan was appointed Minister of State for Care and Mental Health, a position which combined with the mental health and social care portfolios.[8] In June 2022, the department published the Draft Mental Health Bill, stating the government's intention to modernise the existing Mental Health Act 1983.[9]

In September 2022, the incoming Truss ministry divided the mental health and care portfolios and appointed Caroline Johnson to the former, with responsibility for mental health and public health. Dr Johnson's tenure was unusually short, due to the collapse of the government in the following month. In October 2022, Maria Caulfield was appointed and given responsibility for mental health and women's health in the Sunak ministry.

Responsibilities

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Mental Health and Women's Health Strategy leads on the following:[1]

• women’s health
• maternity services
• gender identity services
• cosmetic regulation
• DHSC litigation
• mental health:
  • children and young people and early intervention
  • Mental Health Act
  • suicide prevention and crisis prevention
• bereavement
• disabilities, including autism
• offender health
• patient safety:
  • clinical negligence
  • historic inquiries
  • quality regulation
  • death certification
  • indemnity
  • Patient Safety Commissioner
• Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme
• patient experience:
  • ombudsman, complaints
  • whistleblowing, health ethics
• Government Equalities Office portfolio
• UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA):
  • COVID-19 – COVID-19 status certification, variant tracing, shielding
  • environmental health (air quality, chemicals, radiation)
  • health security at the border
  • infectious diseases (including monkeypox)
  • seasonal flu
• vaccines:
  • COVID-19 vaccine deployment and uptake
  • routine immunisations and vaccinations
• emergency preparedness including Ukraine
• sponsorship of:
  • Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch (HSIB)
  • Care Quality Commission (CQC)
  • NHS Resolution
  • Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA)
  • Human Tissue Authority (HTA)
  • UKHSA

List of ministers

Name		Portrait	Took office	Left office	Length of Term	Political party	Prime Minister
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Mental Health, Inequalities and Suicide Prevention[a][11]
	Jackie Doyle-Price MP for Thurrock		14 June 2017	27 July 2019	2 years, 43 days	Conservative		Theresa May
Minister of State for Patient Safety, Suicide Prevention and Mental Health[b][3]
	Nadine Dorries MP for Mid Bedfordshire		27 July 2019	15 September 2021	2 years, 50 days	Conservative		Boris Johnson
Minister of State for Care and Mental Health[13]
	Gillian Keegan MP for Chichester		16 September 2021	8 September 2022	357 days	Conservative		Boris Johnson
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Mental Health and Public Health[14]
	Caroline Johnson MP for Sleaford and North Hykeham		8 September 2022	27 October 2022	49 days	Conservative		Liz Truss
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Mental Health and Women’s Health Strategy[1]
	Maria Caulfield MP for Lewes		27 October 2022	5 July 2024	2 years, 235 days	Conservative		Rishi Sunak

See also

• Mental health minister

Notes

1. Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Mental Health and Inequalities (2017–2018)[10]
2. Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Patient Safety, Suicide Prevention and Mental Health (2019–2020)[12]

References

1. "Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Mental Health and Women's Health Strategy) - GOV.UK". www.gov.uk. Retrieved 2022-12-03.
2. "World Mental Health Day: PM appoints suicide prevention minister". BBC News. 2018-10-10. Retrieved 2020-10-31.
3. "Minister of State (Minister for Patient Safety, Suicide Prevention and Mental Health) - GOV.UK". www.gov.uk. Retrieved 2020-10-31.
4. Shepherd, James (29 July 2017). "New health ministers appointed by incoming prime minister". Nursing Times. Retrieved 2020-10-31.
5. "Mental Health Minister hears from people with mental health problems affected by pandemic". www.mind.org.uk. Retrieved 2020-10-31.
6. Wallace, William (26 February 2021). "The UK mental health crisis coming in Covid's wake". Financial times. Retrieved 2021-03-09.
7. Dorries, Nadine (5 May 2020). "Honoured and thrilled to have been promoted today by BorisJohnson to Minister of State at DHSCgovuk where we are all working together in the battle against COVID19 Inthistogether StayHomeSaveLives". Twitter. Archived from the original on 10 May 2020. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
8. Channel, FE News: The Future of Education News (16 September 2021). "Gillian Keegan moves on from Apprenticeships and Skills Minister to Department of Health and Social Care in Gov #reshuffle". FE News. Retrieved 2021-09-16.
9. "Draft Mental Health Bill 2022 - GOV.UK". www.gov.uk. 27 June 2022. Retrieved 2022-12-03.
10. "Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Mental Health and Inequalities - GOV.UK". www.gov.uk. Retrieved 2022-12-03.
11. "Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Mental Health, Inequalities and Suicide Prevention - GOV.UK". www.gov.uk. Retrieved 2022-12-03.
12. "Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Patient Safety, Suicide Prevention and Mental Health) - GOV.UK". www.gov.uk. Retrieved 2022-12-03.
13. "Minister of State (Minister for Care and Mental Health) - GOV.UK". www.gov.uk. Retrieved 2022-12-03.
14. "Parliamentary Under Secretary of State - GOV.UK". www.gov.uk. Retrieved 2022-12-03.