Care services minister gets responsibility for mental health

Ivan Lewis has taken responsibility for both social care and mental health at the Department of Health as part of Gordon Brown’s ministerial reshuffle.

Lewis told the House of Commons yesterday, during the debate on the Mental Health Bill that he was “pleased to assume lead responsibility for mental health” in the DH, taking over from Rosie Winterton, who has moved to the Department for Transport. He told MPs: “Whenever possible, I shall try to build a consensus that tackles the stigma that people with mental health problems and their families experience all too frequently.”

Lewis also confirmed that he has retained the social care brief, suggesting that he may lose some of his previous responsibilities such as child health.

It is understood that the DH’s director general of social care David Behan has also had mental health included in his brief. However, a DH spokesperson said he was as yet unable to confirm details of the departmental reshuffle.

More information

Mental Health Bill battle draws to an end

Who’s who in the Brown reshuffle

Essential information on mental health 

More from Community Care

Comments are closed.