As Matt Hancock becomes new health secretary, what happens to social care green paper?

After the shock resignation of Boris Johnson, Jeremy Hunt is now the new secretary of state for foreign and commonwealth affairs, with Matt Hancock stepping into Mr Hunt’s previous role as Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.

Mr Hunt recently managed to secure a £20bn boost in funding for the NHS, but the care sector was critical that no funding had been allocated to them.

There have been many delays and much speculation about how social care needs to be future-proofed; the enormous strain on local government and the care sector by the current system was meant to be addressed once and for all by autumn's green paper.

The recent addition of social care to the title of health secretary was welcomed as a step in the right direction by many in the care sector, but any additional funding has been delayed until the social care green paper is finally released, but with the government in chaos, and Prime Minister Theresa May fighting for her existence, it has left many wondering if social care will actually get addressed come autumn.

Mr Hancock, MP for West Suffolk since 2010, has been promoted to the role of health and social care secretary after a fairly short stint as culture secretary. The new role will be a challenging one for a minister with limited political experience, although Hancock’s social media displays that he clearly relishes his new role. He said on Twitter: “Really looking forward to joining @DHSCgovuk at such an important time for our great NHS. I can’t wait to get started.”

George McNamara, director of policy at the charity, Independent Age, said: “The new secretary of state will have a full in-tray, but must immediately commit to securing the future of health and social care, which addresses a growing funding gap and better meets the needs of older people by increasing quality and access to care and support.

“Action must also be taken to transform the attractiveness, opportunities for career progression and value given to the social care workforce.”

The new health secretary follows Mr Hunt's tumultuous six-year tenure which saw walkouts by junior doctors and other staff within the NHS.

The success of his replacement, however, will be judged on, not just how he runs the NHS budget, but on what he does with social care in the months, and possibly years to come.

During his oral evidence session to the Health and Social Care Select Committee on 24 July, Mr Hancock said the Green Paper would focus on funding, workforce, new models and technology.

Vic Rayner, executive director of the NCF, said: “The announcement that the social care Green Paper will cover all of adult social care is most welcome. The priority areas for the Green Paper around funding, workforce, new models and technology are relevant across the whole spectrum of adult care provision, and therefore this change is to be embraced.”