Introduction

The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, commonly referred to as the Health Secretary, is a cabinet position in the Scottish Government. The Cabinet Secretary is responsible for the Health and Social Care Directorates and NHS Scotland.

The Cabinet Secretary is assisted by the Minister for Public Health, Women’s Health and Sport, Maree Todd and Minister for Mental Wellbeing and Social Care, Kevin Stewart.

The current Cabinet Secretary is Humza Yousaf, who was appointed in May 2021.

Brief History

The position was created in 1999 as the Minister for Health and Community Care, with the advent of devolution and the institution of the Scottish Parliament, taking over some of the roles and functions of the former Scottish Office that existed prior to 1999. After the 2007 election the Ministerial position was renamed to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing.

After the 2011 election the full Ministerial title was Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and Cities Strategy with the portfolio being expanded to include Cities Strategy which was part of the SNP manifesto to have a dedicated “Minister for Cities”; at the same time the responsibility for housing was removed and transferred to the new Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment. Responsibilities for the cities strategy and the delivery of the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow were later transferred to other members of the cabinet.

After the 2016 election, the name of the post was changed to simply Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport. In the 2021 cabinet reshuffle, the post was retitled to Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care.

Overview

Responsibilities

The responsibilities of the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care include:

• NHS Scotland and its performance, staff and pay.
• Health care and social integration.
• Patient services and patient safety.
• Primary care.
• Allied Healthcare services.
• Carers, adult care and support.
• Child and maternal health.
• Medical records, health improvement and protection.

Public Bodies

The following public bodies report to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care:

• NHS Scotland.
• Care Inspectorate.
• Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland.
• Scottish Social Services Council.
• Sportscotland.

Titles

• Minister for Health and Community Care: 19 May 1999 to 17 May 2007.
• Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing: 17 May 2007 to 19 May 2011.
• Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and Cities Strategy: 19 May 2011 to 15 September 2012.
• Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing: 05 September 2012 to 21 November 2014.
• Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and Sport: 21 November 2014 to 18 May 2016.
• Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport: 18 May 2016 to 19 May 2021.
• Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care: 20 May 2021 to Present.

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