29 June 2007
Professor Sir Ara Darzi has been appointed Parliamentary Under Secretary at Department of Health. He has worked in some of the most high-tech areas of non-invasive surgery (including the use of robotics).
Professor Darzi will work with Alan Johnson in improving patient-care, increase the convenience and accessibility of health services and build a new partnership with NHS and staff and patients.
Read the statement
My entire career has been dedicated to improving the health of patients.
It is a great honour and privilege to be asked by the Prime Minister to continue that work for patients across the country. I will be working closely with Alan Johnson to map out the next steps of the reform agenda that has achieved so much in the last 10 years. But we can do better.
The Prime Minister has asked me to concentrate on how we can improve the quality of patient-care, increase the convenience and accessibility of health services and build a new partnership with NHS staff and patients. My remit will be reliant on my experience as a clinician working in the NHS and my previous involvement in service redesign and improving access.
I come from the frontline and will remain on the frontline, working with and learning from the talented and committed people in the NHS from ancillary staff to surgeons; nurses to paramedics. I will be taking their experiences and knowledge with me and will be their advocate at the heart of Government.
I am not a politician by profession. My working life has, is and will continue to be centred on patient care. I intend to draw on my experience in clinical practice, research and teaching and in health policy to fulfil this responsibility.
I approach this new role with humility but also with confidence in my knowledge of the needs of patients both now and in the future, together with an absolute determination to break down any barriers that prevent staff in the NHS from continuously meeting world-class standards of care for patients.
My experience both as a surgeon and in leading the review of the organisation of future London NHS services has given me a passion to work with Government and with healthcare professionals to build a better health service, closer to patients and more responsive to their needs.
My appointment to this new role signals the commitment of our new Prime Minister to value the leadership, experience and challenge of clinicians.
I look forward to the opportunity to pursue this passion in my new role.
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