The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 274 No 7332 p39
15 January 2005

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News summary

New health minister appointed for Wales

Brian Gibbons, has been appointed Minister for Health and Social Services of the Welsh Assembly Government, replacing Jane Hutt.

Dr Gibbons has held the position of Deputy Economic Development and Transport Minister since 2003. He is a GP in Blaengwynfi, South Wales, and has previously served as Deputy Minister for Health and Social Services. Ms Hutt will now take on the cabinet role of business manager.

Counter-fraud announcement Counter-fraud work in 2003–04 resulted in an extra £7.6m being spent on the NHS in Wales. Most of the money (£7m) came from a reduction in prescription fraud by patients.

Health minister Brian Gibbons said: “I am very proud of the progress made to tackle fraud in the NHS. … With the record investment we are seeing in the NHS, it is comforting to know that more and more is reaching its target.”