Patricia Hewitt MP said:
"I am delighted and honoured to be given the job of Secretary of
State for Health. John Reid and Alan Milburn put in place a programme
of investment and reform that is beginning to deliver results. I am
determined to drive forward our plans to create a patient-led NHS in
the direction set by the Prime Minister, while keeping up the pace of
change set by my predecessors.
"Over the next three months I will be doing a lot of listening and
learning from the real experts - patients and staff. I intend to get
around all parts of the NHS, finding out for myself what patients
feel about the care they are receiving and shadowing staff as they
carry out their duties. I will listen to everyone, whether medics or
midwives, cleaners, porters or physiotherapists, stop-smoking teams
or our new breed of personal health advisors."
"As patients and consumers, we are better informed today about our
health care than any previous generation. A modern health and social
care system has to be completely focussed on the needs of its users.
The 2 million people who work in the NHS and social care are also
themselves patients and users. I know they all want to treat patients
and users the way they and their families would want to be treated
and that is the purpose of our reforms."
1. Patricia Hewitt, was formerly Minister for Small Business and
E-Commerce at the Department of Trade and Industry, Economic
Secretary at the Treasury and Secretary of State at the DTI. Ms
Hewitt has been a Member of Parliament since 1997. She was educated
at the Canberra Girls' Grammar School and Newnham College, Cambridge
University.
Patricia Hewitt was Press and Broadcasting Officer and Policy
Coordinator to the then Leader of the Opposition, the Rt. Hon. Neil
Kinnock; Deputy Director of the Institute for Public Policy Research,
and Director of Research for Andersen Consulting. In 1993 Ms Hewitt
wrote About Time, a book focussing on changes in work and family
life. Ms Hewitt was Deputy Chair of the Commission for Social
Justice and was a member of the Social Security Select Committee
before taking up her Ministerial post. In her spare time, Patricia
Hewitt enjoys reading, theatre, music and gardening. She is married
with one son and one daughter.
2. For media inquires only, please contact Jon Hibbs on 0207 210
5478 or Lee Bailey on 0207 210 5010.
SOURCE: UK Dept of Health