Alan Milburn
The Reformer
Changing the system from inside it, principle turned into change.
Alan Milburn is a former UK Secretary of State for Health who has a strong focus on reforming the NHS to improve its effectiveness and morale. This interview reveals his commitment to driving change within established systems, highlighting the importance of addressing both immediate and long-term challenges in healthcare.
“So that's the political trick that you've got to be able to perform. And that's sort of what we did with the NHS plan, which you were alluding to. If you remember, there was a forward to that NHS plan, and people talk about how good the policy was.”
“No, it was I think it was post that awful period. I think, I remember Fraser saying to me about 18 months before I resigned, saying to me, something's happened to you, you look like and feel like a different politician. And it was true because I sort of, personal ambition became a second order issue for me.”
“The first instinct, I remember when Tony rang me to offer me the Minister of State position to Frank Dobson in 1997. And the truth is, by the time he'd around, because it was sort of two or three days in, and he'd obviously not got round to recognizing the brilliance that Rory has been able to spot.”
“Well, if the size of the cake is static and all that we're doing is dividing it between public and private in terms of staffing, doctors working here and working there, it doesn't really add to the overall volume.”
The Rest Is Politics: Leading — 3: Alan Milburn: Can the NHS be saved?
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