The Prime Minister has appointed James Frith, MP for Bury North, as a Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department of Health and Social Care. The announcement returns the constituency’s MP to ministerial office after previous roles in Whitehall and places a local representative at the heart of national health policy-making.
Local experience and ministerial background
Mr Frith joins the department having served in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and the Cabinet Office, where he led work on digital public services and the responsible use of technology across government. His specific brief at the Department of Health and Social Care has not yet been published.
His election to government is likely to be watched closely in Bury, where he has campaigned publicly on issues including reducing waiting times, tackling health inequalities, protecting services such as the local walk-in centre and supporting hospices and end-of-life care.
What Mr Frith has said
"It is an enormous privilege to have been appointed by the Prime Minister to serve as Minister for Health at the Department of Health and Social Care... The people of Bury North remain at the heart of everything I do. They have entrusted me to represent them, and I will continue to be their voice while serving in government. Now, it's time to get to work."
In his statement Mr Frith emphasised the interplay between prevention, social care and NHS services and flagged technology and service design as priorities. He said he was under no illusion about the scale of the challenge facing health and care services.
Implications for Bury
Residents and local health providers will be watching for how his ministerial responsibilities translate into action on issues he highlighted in his campaign and constituency work. Key local concerns include:
- Waiting times for treatment and referrals;
- Access to primary care, including the future of walk-in services in the area;
- Integration between NHS services and social care, and support for hospices and palliative services.
As a minister, Mr Frith will be expected to work with colleagues across government and the NHS. The appointment offers Bury a direct line into national health discussions, but how this will affect local service delivery will depend on the precise responsibilities he is given and the decisions taken in Westminster and by local health bodies.
Background and next steps
Mr Frith’s prior ministerial experience focused on digital public services and the responsible use of technology. That background suggests he may prioritise technological tools and service redesign alongside more traditional health policy levers. The Department has not yet set out the ministerial division of responsibilities, and constituents will look for further detail about his brief and how he intends to balance ministerial duties with constituency representation.
| Previous ministerial roles | Area of focus |
|---|---|
| Department for Science, Innovation and Technology | Digital public services |
| Cabinet Office | Responsible use of technology across government |
| Department of Health and Social Care | Role and responsibilities to be confirmed |
The coming weeks should clarify Mr Frith’s specific remit and the policy areas he will oversee. Local stakeholders — patients, clinicians, council representatives and voluntary sector partners — will expect to see how his ministerial influence is used to address the challenges he has identified in Bury North.
