Movers and Shakers news roundup

This Movers and Shakers roundup includes the resignation of health secretary Wes Streeting and the appointment of his replacement James Murray, as well as John Browett being named chair of the NHS’s new online hospital trust.

Wes Streeting resigned as Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on 14 May 2026, admitting that he had “lost confidence” in Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership.

He has been MP for Ilford North since May 2015 and was appointed health secretary on 5 July 2024 following Labour’s general election victory.

James Murray, MP for Ealing North and former Chief Secretary to the Treasury, replaced Streeting as health secretary.

He was first elected as an MP in 2019, with his previous roles also including Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury and shadow financial secretary.

Dr Zubir Ahmed also resigned in the same week as health innovation and safety minister in protest over Starmer’s leadership and the Labour Party’s poor performance in the 2026 Scottish Parliament election.

Ahmed, who has been MP for Glasgow South West since July 2024, was appointed parliamentary under-secretary of state for health innovation and safety on 6 September 2025 before resigning on 12 May 2026.

John Browett, business leader and former supermarket chief executive, has been named chair of the NHS’s new online hospital trust.

NHS Online, which will provide virtual specialist care for patients through the NHS App and video consultations, has now been formally established as the Online NHS Trust.

Browett is a former chief executive of Tesco.com and has also held senior leadership roles at Dixons, Apple and Dunelm. He is currently chair of the Institute of Directors and is the former chair of Octopus Group and former non-executive director at EasyJet.

An interim chair has been appointed to the Care Quality Commission (CQC) following a “regrettable” delay in recruiting a permanent successor, the independent regulator said.

Kay Boycott, non-executive director, took on the role on 1 June 2026 and will remain in post until 31 July, unless a substantive chair is appointed earlier.

Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust has confirmed the appointment of Dr Sean Fenwick as its permanent chief executive.

He has been serving as acting chief executive since August 2025 and will now assume the position on a substantive basis.

North East London NHS Foundation Trust has named Jan Ditheridge as its interim chief executive. Her previous leadership roles include serving as interim chief executive at Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust.

Rukshana Kapasi has been confirmed as chair of Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, having served as the director of health at the Barnardo’s children’s charity since 2020.

She is also currently a non-executive director at Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust, where she has served as a member of the board since July 2021.

Blinx Healthcare has announced the appointment of Minal Bakhai, former NHS England national director of primary care and community, as deputy chief executive and chief clinical and strategy officer.

Asterix Health has appointed two senior NHS figures to its medical leadership team. Dr Harriet Bradley, former medical director at GP Pathfinders Clinic, joins as medical director and Dr Mike Bewick, former deputy medical director at NHS England, joins as strategic medical lead.