Last week two new ministers were appointed to the UK's Department of Health as a result of Prime Minister Gordon Brown's recent cabinet reshuffle. Ben Bradshaw and Dawn Primarolo will be replaced by Mike O'Brian, previously minister at the Department for Energy and Climate change, and Gillian Merron, a parliamentary under-secretary of state at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Phil Hope will continue in his role as minister at the department.

Mr O'Brian, MP for North Warwickshire, was first appointed as a Minister of State in 2003 and has since functioned in that role within five different departments, including this latest appointment.

Ms Merron, MP for Lincoln, was promoted to this latest role from her position as the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign & Commonwealth Office.