LORD DARZI APPOINTED MINISTER IN PRIME MINISTER BROWN's NEW GOVERNMENT

 LORD DARZI (Professor Sir Ara Darzi) who is charged with improving patient care, has been promoted from his previous role as National Advisor on surgery.

Lord Darzi, chair of surgery at Imperial College London, supports government plans to reconfigure NHS services.

When he took over as prime minister, Mr Brown said he planned a broad-based government of "all the talents".

Lord Darzi will combine his ministerial duties with his research and clinical commitments, including the supervision of students.

Lord Darzi,  47, said: "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."

Frontline experience

He said he would draw on his experience from the frontline to fulfil his new responsibilities.

"I am not a politician by profession. My working life has, is and will continue to be centred on patient care."

Lord Darzi is internationally respected for his innovative work in the advancement of minimal invasive surgery and in the development and use of allied technologies including surgical robots and image-guided surgery.

Dr Jonathan Fielden, chair of the BMA's consultants' committee, said: "Having a focus on improving patient care is a positive step forward.

"We will be looking forward to him listening to our concerns and working closely with him to ensure that the concerns of the profession and the public are utilised to improve patient care."

Mr Bernard Ribeiro, President of the Royal College of Surgeons, said: "I am delighted that a practising surgeon, who deals with patients on a regular basis, has decided to take such a high position.

"It is an opportunity for government to engage directly with the profession."

The prime minister's spokesman said Lord Darzi would work Monday to Thursday as a minister - being paid for three days - and continue to work as an NHS surgeon, unpaid, on Fridays.

Any income from his international private practice will be paid direct to Imperial College to fund research, the spokesman said.

THE ABOVE ARE EXERPTS FROM BBC NEWS WEBSITE

The Armenian Community & Church Council of Great Britain take great pleasure in congratulating Lord Ara Darzi on his appointment to such an eminent position and would also like to congratulate Lord Darzi's parents Vartkes and Dikranouhi Darzi who are much respected members of the British Armenian Community.