following the 2015 general election, gummer became parliamentary under-secretary of state for care quality in the department of health, one of the broadest junior ministerial briefs. gummer's ministerial responsibilities included nhs hospitals, the nhs workforce, maternity care, patient safety and end of life care. gummer's achievements include a new strategy to deal with high levels of stillbirths, the government commitment to ensure high quality, compassionate end of life care across the health system by 2020 and the introduction of reforms to nursing training and bursaries, which aim to create 10,000 more nursing, midwifery and allied health degree places and launching a consultation on a new nursing associate role. his ministerial role also involved him in the junior doctors' contract dispute and negotiations with the chair of the bma junior doctors' committee dr johann malawana. gummer claimed that the new contract was "fair to all, including protected groups, whilst recognising the importance of the contract continuing to be built on equal pay principles". after a series of strikes the bma returned to the negotiating table and agreed a deal with the government, although its membership rejected the deal, leading to dr malawana's resignation.