JANE Hutt's departure has been greeted with a mixture of relief and regret in the health community, while despite shouting long and loud for a new face, political opponents seem distinctly underwhelmed by the change.

Gwent GP Dr Tony Calland, chairman of the British Medical Association's Welsh Council, said Ms Hutt worked hard to improve the NHS but with only limited success.

"The pressure on her increased over the past year and it now seems to be an appropriate time to hand over the responsibility of the NHS to a fresh mind," said Dr Calland.

Patients and nurses have benefited from Jane Hutt's work, said Royal College of Nursing Wales director Tina Donnelly, boosting training and the nursing role in every level of healthcare decision-making.

"However, we cannot ignore that we still have grave concerns regarding long waiting lists, and further proposed reorganisation of the health service in terms of proposed mergers of NHS Trusts with local health boards," she said.

"We also still have an increasing agency bill for nursing staff currently in excess of £21 million and more needs to be done to hold on to nursing staff."

Cathy O'Sullivan, chief officer at patients' watchdog Gwent community health council, said Ms Hutt's removal will be greeted with unease. The role of Community Health Councils has been boosted during Ms Hutt's period in office.

"We've had a very good rapport with her, unlike a lot of politicians," said Mrs O'Sullivan.

"She has been very supportive of CHCs, a great champion for the work we do. We hope to hear comforting noises from her successor very soon."

Opposition politicians have been harsher. Plaid Cymru leader Ieuan Wyn Jones AM called Ms Hutt and her successor Dr Brian Gibbons "New Labour clones" arguing that new policies on waiting times are needed.

Welsh Liberal Democrats leader Mike German said the move was "window dressing" if policies don't change, while Welsh Conservatives suggest Dr Gibbons is "unlikely to improve the state of the NHS in Wales."