Union's praise 'dedicated' Milburn following resignation

Health unions have voiced their regret at the resignation of health secretary Alan Milburn, who departed today citing the problems of balancing life as a government minister, with family life in his Dalington constituency.

The BMA's Chairman, Dr Ian Bogle, thanked Mr Milburn for his dedication and wished him well in the future.

He added: "I fully understand his reasons for resigning. As doctors we know too well how difficult it is to balance the requirements of a pressurised job and family life."

The General Secretary of Unison, Dave Prentis, also praised the outgoing minister's dedication and hard work.

He said: “Alan is a dedicated politician, worked hard for the Labour Party and the Labour government and made sure that he fought his corner to get unprecedented amounts of cash injected into the national health service.

“Although we had some disagreements on the way forward, I believe Alan took very seriously the difficult job he had to do in turning round our NHS after 20 years of neglect.

“It’s a shame he is leaving before that task is completed. I wish him well in the future”.

The Royal College of Nursing said that it had a "useful and productive working relationship" with Mr Milburn.

It added: "We look forward to the governments’ new appointment and continuing the work that has already been started on pay and career structures and addressing the desperate shortage of nurses. More than ever nurses and patients need a champion in government to drive forward the improvements we all want in health services.

"We need to keep up the momentum on improving services for patients, and just as importantly putting nurses at the heart of decision making in healthcare."

Alan Milburn can reflect upon a Cabinet career punctuated by a number of successes in directing the health department.

Major reforms – often much-maligned and controversial – on the setting up of foundation hospitals have been much progressed and a deal to improve the pay structure for NHS staff was completed yesterday. Very much a politician in the Blairite mould, he was a key moderniser in the party and a loyal backer of the Prime Minister.

His success in a heading a ministry which has proven to be a poison chalice for so many able politicians before him, had led to some commentators marking Mr Milburn out as a good outside bet as a future leader of the Labour Party. The 'future leader' hex was also placed upon Mo Mowlam and Robin Cook – although their leaving was not quite so amicable.

In letter to the Prime Minister today, Mr Milburn stressed that the reasons for his departure were personal, and not related to the direction of government policy.

He wrote: "It has been an enormous privilege to serve in government for six years. But I have already missed a good bit of my children growing up, and I don't want to miss any more. It's come down to a choice between my career in politics and my life with my family.

"This is the right time to go, not just for Ruth and the children, but for me. The NHS is now moving forwards. The money is going in and the reforms that you and I have argued for are making an impact.

"As you know, this has been a difficult decision for me to take and I leave with real sadness. It is not a political decision for I support you totally in what you are trying to do. It is entirely personal."

(GMcG)