Last Updated on July 28, 2016

The care minister role has been downgraded following changes to the structure of the Department of Health under new Prime Minister, Theresa May. The previous minister of state position was held by Alistair Burt, who announced his resignation earlier this month.

The new role of parliamentary under-secretary of state for community health and care is now held by David Mowat. Before he undertook this role, Mowat was parliamentary private secretary to the financial secretary to the treasury, from 2012 to 2016.

Responsibilities for the parliamentary under-secretary of state for community health and care include adult social care, carers, community services, integration of health and social care, dementia, learning disabilities and all elements of primary care – including dentistry and pharmacy.

Prior to his appointment to parliament, Mowat served as chairman of Fairbridge, a charitable organisation in Salford which aims to improve the lives of disadvantaged young people.

Chair of The Independent Care Group, Mike Padgham has reacted to the news of the downgraded role, saying, ‘The new Prime Minister has said she means to support the disadvantaged as she takes up the reins of Government, but the loss of a dedicated ministerial post for social care looks like a backward step.

‘It very much appears that, after a generation of waiting, any hopes we had of new progress in social care have been swiftly dashed by this apparent downgrading of social care.’

Health secretary, Jeremy Hunt continues in his role, with a focus on mental health; Philip Dunne has become minister of state for health; Nicola Blackwood has been appointed as parliamentary under-secretary of state for public health and innovation; and Lord Prior remains the parliamentary under-secretary of state for health.