A CLOSE relative of the woman who allegedly engaged in an extramarital affair with Health Secretary Matt Hancock is a top executive at a firm which has been handed a slew of NHS contracts, reports say.

Hancock has been forced to defend his conduct after The Sun published pictures allegedly showing him kissing Gina Coladangelo, a close friend from his university days who he secretly hired as an adviser in 2020.

The two are both married to other people and their relationship had previously led to accusations of a “chumocracy” when it emerged Coladangelo had also accompanied Hancock to confidential meetings with civil servants, and visited No10.

READ MORE: Matt Hancock accused of cheating on his wife with close aide Gina Coladangelo

Now, Sky News have reported that Roberto Coladangelo, believed to be the brother of Gina Coladangelo, is an executive director of strategy for Partnering Health Limited (PHL Group).

That firm, according to its website, is “an established company dedicated to offering quality solutions and services to NHS and private healthcare partners”.

Hancock has previously been accused of cronyism after it emerged that he held shares in a firm owned by his sister and other family members which had won NHS contracts. 

It was claimed that Hancock had omitted to declare his connection to the company in the relevant register of interests. He denied any wrongdoing. 

There is currently no suggestion that the PHL Group acted improperly in its procurement of government contracts.

Sky News said that they had been unable to find the value of PHL Group's NHS contracts or the timing of their award, but that a “person close to the situation” claimed PHL had been providing services to the NHS since it was established 11 years ago, and that contracts awarded by the NHS followed the relevant procurement rules.

A PHL spokeswoman said the company would provide a statement "later this evening".