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Former health secretary Jeremy Hunt named new Chancellor

Former health secretary Jeremy Hunt named new Chancellor

Credit: Official portrait of Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP (Parliament)

Sofia Lind

14 Oct 2022

Jeremy Hunt, the former longest-serving health secretary, has been named as Chancellor, in a move which could have big implications for NHS spending.

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Mr Hunt, who is currently chair of the House of Commons Health and Social Care Committee, has recently been vocal about the need for an urgent long-term NHS workforce plan.

Since he stepped down as health secretary, Mr Hunt has been vocal about the NHS workforce crisis, arguing in May that Health Education England (HEE) must calculate and publish the numbers of healthcare professionals needed to meet patient demand in the long-term.

He also argued in July that nurses in the NHS must be offered better opportunities to pursue flexible working to stop them leaving the NHS or reducing their hours.

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As HSC chair, he this year led an inquiry into the future of general practice, where he heard from Heather Randle, RCN professional lead for education and primary care, that nursing staff should be at the heart of any transformation in primary care and more must be done to encourage nursing leadership in the sector

His appointment follows the sacking of Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng today.

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A version of this story was originally published on our sister publication Pulse.

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