Andrew Lansley has been appointed Secretary of State for Health within the new Cabinet of the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition.

The two parties share a lot of common ground on health issues, though it seems unlikely that any detailed health policy will be announced until the Queen's Speech on 25 May.

Although Liberal Democrat health spokesman Normal Lamb did not secure the Health Secretary role, it is expected that there will be a Lib Dem minister in each department.

The BMA has urged Lansley to work with doctors in the formation of new policy. "There is intense pressure to make savings, but cutting clinical staff or frontline services would be not only shortsighted, but could also cause irreparable damage to the NHS," said Dr Hamish Meldrum, Chairman of Council at the BMA.

"Doctors will want to play a central role in shaping the delivery of healthcare and we would encourage the new government to work with us to ensure that this can happen."

Lansley previously pledged to abolish 'politically-motivated' targets and give greater autonomy to local clinicians - but to force local health organisations to follow NICE guidelines. Both coalition parties pledged to cut 'bureaucracy' and 'targets' in their manifestos.

There may be conflict over the Conservatives' plans to establish an independent NHS board to run the health service, as the Lib Dems have advocated local health commissioning boards.

Andrew Lansley has been Shadow Health Secretary since 2003. All five Shadow Health Ministers retained their seats in the General Election - whereas four of the five Labour Health Ministers lost their seats.

The coalition agreement includes plans for £6bn of public spending cuts this year. An emergency Budget is to take place within 50 days.

 
Andrew Lansley