Jeremy Hunt's reappointment as health secretary provokes fury from public

'Every other human in the UK is gutted,' social media user laments

Mr Hunt is the UK's longest-serving Health Secretary (Getty)

The news Jeremy Hunt was remaining in the Cabinet - despite earlier reports that he was being sacked - has provoked a strong reaction from members of the public.

Hundreds of social media users expressed their disappointment after reports the controversial figure was being removed from government turned into news he would, in fact, remain as Health Secretary under Theresa May.

Following his reappointment, Mr Hunt posted a tweet saying "reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated" and that he was "thrilled to be back in government".

In response, a barrage of Twitter users said they were "gutted", with many who appear to work for the health sector accusing him of "incompetence" for his previous dealings with the NHS.

Other Twitter users made references to films to describe Mr Hunt's reappointment as Health Secretary, comparing it to scenes from Dawn of the Dead and Fatal Attraction.

There had been widespread confusion earlier on in the day, when it was widely reported Ms May had decided not to keep Mr Hunt in the role.

Many people had responded with jubilation to reports he was sacked, with some hospital wards reportedly erupting into cheers.

But celebrations turned into despair when it was revealed Mr Hunt would remain in his Cabinet position.

As he left Downing Street after being reappointed, Mr Hunt smiled broadly and said he was “thrilled”.

Mr Hunt is the UK's longest-serving Health Secretary, after taking on the role in 2012 following a two-year stint as Culture Secretary.

His long-running row with medics has seen him clash with not only the British Medical Association (BMA) but powerful royal colleges, academics and even the British Medical Journal (BMJ), and made him highly unpopular with many NHS employees.