Annie Wells resigns from Scottish Conservative shadow cabinet for health reasons

Annie Wells has resigned from her position as the Scottish Conservative shadow health secretary due to health reasons.

Sandesh Gulhane, a practising GP who was the party's shadow minister for public health, women's health and sport, has been appointed as her replacement.

It means Sue Webber will take up Gulhane's old role, in addition to her role as shadow minister for drug policy.

Wells will continue as an MSP for Glasgow and, while she will be taking a step back from frontline politics, she will be attending the Scottish Parliament on a consistent basis.

Douglas Ross, the party's leader, said: "I’d like to thank Annie Wells for the huge amount of effort she has put in since I became leader and for all the tremendous work that she continues to do for the party.

"I wish her a speedy recovery and look forward to welcoming her back to frontline politics very soon.

"While I’m disappointed to see Annie go, I am delighted to appoint Dr Sandesh Gulhane as our new Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, and Sue Webber as our new Public Health, Women’s Health and Sport Shadow Minister.

"Scotland’s NHS is in crisis and that’s why it’s so important that we build Scotland’s real alternative to this failing government, with frontline experts like Dr Gulhane."

Gulhane said following his promotion: "It’s a huge honour to be promoted to the Shadow Cabinet and I can’t wait to get started.

"I look forward to working with parties across the Scottish Parliament to recognise and tackle the crisis in our NHS and to improve access to healthcare for patients across Scotland.

"My top priorities will be pushing the SNP to finally set up a network of long Covid clinics to ease the pressure on other frontline services, and to get the government to focus on tackling lengthy treatment waiting times, which will alleviate the strain throughout Scotland’s NHS."