New Scottish health secretary appointed

Michael Matheson has been appointed cabinet secretary for NHS recovery, health and social care by new Scottish first minister Humza Yousaf.

The Scottish National Party MSP for Falkirk West moves from his role as net zero, energy and transport cabinet secretary.

Matheson trained and practised as an occupational therapist before entering the Scottish Parliament in 1999. He was a member of the Scottish Parliament’s health and sport committee from 2007 to 2011, and cabinet secretary for justice from 2014 to 2018.

Commenting on the announcement, Laura Wilson, director of RPS Scotland, said: “I would like to congratulate Michael Matheson on being appointed to this position. NHS recovery is vitally important, and pharmacy has a huge amount to offer this agenda.

“Our current priorities include enabling pharmacists to take leadership of prescribing in all care settings, tackling health inequalities and advocating for change, implementing shared patient records between healthcare professionals to provide high quality, person-centred and safe patient care, improving pharmacists’ wellbeing and tackling the climate emergency by encouraging sustainable and green prescribing across Scotland.

“I look forward to working with Matheson in his new role to advance all of these issues, for the benefit of pharmacists, patients and our environment.”