Alan Milburn Biography and Timeline

Member of Parliament

Elected Member of Parliament for Darlington

Spokesman

Appointed Spokesman for the Treasury

Role range: 1996-1997

Secretary of State for Health

Appointed Minister of Health

Role range: 1997-2007 – 1997-1998

Secretary of State for Health

Appointed Secretary of State for Health

Role range: 1997-2007 – 1999-

Chief Secretary

Appointed Chief Secretary to the Treasury

Role range: 1997-2007 – 1998-1999

Secretary of State for Health Appointment

Milburn becomes Health Secretary and leads a period of major NHS investment, performance management, organisational reform and expansion of patient choice.

Role range: 1999-2003

National Service Framework for Coronary Heart Disease

A national framework for coronary heart disease sets standards for prevention, diagnosis, emergency treatment, revascularisation and cardiac rehabilitation across the NHS.

Role range: 1999-2003

NHS Plan

Milburn publishes the NHS Plan, combining higher investment with targets for staffing, hospital capacity, waiting times, patient access and service modernisation.

Role range: 1999-2003

Commission for Health Improvement

The Commission for Health Improvement begins work as an independent inspectorate reviewing clinical governance and the quality of care delivered by NHS organisations.

Role range: 1999-2003

Independent Sector Capacity Partnership

The government develops arrangements for the NHS to purchase additional treatment from independent providers as one method of increasing capacity and reducing waits.

Role range: 1999-2003

NHS Walk-In Centres

NHS walk-in centres are introduced to provide convenient nurse-led assessment and treatment for minor illness and injury without a conventional GP appointment.

Role range: 1999-2003

Health and Social Care Act 2001

The Health and Social Care Act provides statutory support for organisational changes, partnership arrangements and new mechanisms for improving health and social-care coordination.

Role range: 1999-2003

Shifting the Balance of Power

The government publishes Shifting the Balance of Power, transferring more responsibilities toward primary care trusts while reducing the role of existing health authorities.

Role range: 1999-2003

Hospital Star Ratings

A hospital star-rating system is introduced to compare organisational performance against national targets and give ministers and the public a visible assessment of trusts.

Role range: 1999-2003

Patient Advice and Liaison Services

Patient Advice and Liaison Services are developed in NHS trusts to resolve concerns, provide information and help patients navigate complaints and local services.

Role range: 1999-2003

Primary Care Trusts Established

Primary care trusts become the main local NHS commissioners, controlling substantial budgets and taking responsibility for planning many community and hospital services.

Role range: 1999-2003

Strategic Health Authorities Established

Strategic health authorities replace earlier regional arrangements and take responsibility for overseeing performance and strategic development across groups of local NHS organisations.

Role range: 1999-2003

Delivering the NHS Plan

Delivering the NHS Plan sets out further reforms, including foundation trusts, new financial flows and a stronger relationship between investment and organisational performance.

Role range: 1999-2003

NHS Reform and Health Care Professions Act

The NHS Reform and Health Care Professions Act reshapes health authorities, strengthens inspection arrangements and creates new structures for professional regulation.

Role range: 1999-2003

Twenty-First Century NHS IT Strategy

A national information-technology strategy proposes integrated electronic systems, digital referrals, electronic prescriptions and shared patient information across the NHS.

Role range: 1999-2003

Resignation of Alan Milburn

The Health Secretary, Alan Milburn, resigns from the Government

Role range: 1997-2007 – 2001-2003