Former care services minister joins City University London

The former Minister of State for Care Services Paul Burstow has been appointed as a Professor of Health and Social Care at City University London.

Professor Paul Burstow will work across the areas of health and social care, health management, public health and health services research and will input to undergraduate and graduate teaching, as well as research, enterprise and innovation. The role will be on a part-time basis, and will be based in the division of Health Services Research and Management in the School of Health Sciences.

Appointed as Minister of State for Care Services from 2010 until 2012 while serving as the Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Sutton and Cheam, Professor Paul Burstow was responsible for setting policy on long term health conditions, adult social care, mental health services, carers and learning disability programmes. He also played a key role in shaping the 2014 Care Act. His achievements as a minister include developing new talking therapy services for children and young people, banning age discrimination in the NHS and doubling investment in dementia research.

Speaking about his appointment, Professor Paul Burstow, said: “I am passionate about our health service delivering the best care possible, and while in government I was responsible for reforming social care law and funding, and for making sure that mental health was taken as seriously as physical health. I also made sure that carers have new rights to help and support as part of the Care Act. I have 30 years of practical experience of local government, Westminster and Whitehall. It is this experience and expertise that I hope to bring to this new role at City University London.”

Speaking about the appointment, Professor Stanton Newman, Dean of the School of Health Sciences, said: “Professor Burstow will bring his wealth of experience and dedication to this new role following his impressive record as a champion of the elderly and the disabled while on the front line of government during his time as an MP and a Minister of State for Care Services. I am delighted to welcome him as Professor of Health and Social Care, and Professor Burstow will be a great asset to our division Health Services Research and Management.”