First Minister Humza Yousaf has named Neil Gray as the new Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care today following the resignation announced earlier today.

Neil Gray MSP will move from his current position serving as Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy after Michael Matheson resigned this afternoon.

Accepting Mr Matheson’s resignation, the First Minister thanked him for his work in government while agreeing that it is ‘best for you to step down now’ with the Scottish parliament’s inquiry into his £11,000 roaming charges.

Announcing the appointment, Mr Yousaf said:

“As Economy Secretary, Neil Gray has been widely praised for resetting the relationship with business.

“Now at the helm of the NHS – our most precious institution – and social care, Neil will be charged with continuing its recovery from Covid, driving down waiting times, and reforming the service to improve outcomes for patients.”

An MSP since 2021, Mr Gray has previously served under Nicola Sturgeon as Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development in 2022.

He was the Convener of the Social Justice and Social Security Committee from June 2021 to January 2022, and yesterday supported a motion in parliament on delivering record social security investment in Scotland.

A close colleague of First Minister Humza Yousaf, he was appointed to the Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy portfolio in the March 2023 reshuffle.

Commenting on his new appointment, Mr Gray said:

“I’ll give my all for our NHS and social care in the great health team and with the thousands of dedicated staff across Scotland.”

Before being elected to Holyrood, Mr Gray served as previous Cabinet Secretary for Health, Alex Neil’s parliamentary assistant which Mr Neil told BBC Scotland’s Drivetime radio programme will help him in the role.

Meanwhile, Labour’s health spokesperson Jackie Baillie MSP, who had been calling for Mr Matheson’s resignation, has responded to the new appointment, saying:

“Neil Gray has his work cut out for him as he tries to get to grips with the crisis in our NHS.”

Mr Gray in his role as lead minister for life sciences had recently welcomed news from researchers at Heriot-Watt University on socially-assistive robots to help patients and “ease the pressure” on healthcare staff.

This week he addressed the parliament on the public sector pilot of a four-day working week, and the insights into its health and wellbeing benefits as well as efficiency improvements and risks.

In his letter of resignation, Mr Matheson wrote:

‘Strong and consistent leadership over the coming year will be necessary to ensure we enhance performance and drive down patient waiting times.’

Read more: Scotland's health and social care secretary resigns; Briefing: Cabinet Secretary plans for health and care; Glasgow link workers protected for three years; First Minister urged to rethink social care pay rise; Urgent workforce reforms needed for Scotland's NHS; PHS: Poor transport is widening health gaps

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