Patricia Hewitt, the new secretary of state for health, has promised to spend a lot of time at the start of her tenure listening to the needs of NHS staff.
Hewitt, previously at the Department for Trade and Industry, replaces John Reid who has moved to the post of defence secretary.
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She said she would spend three months shadowing staff as they carry out their duties, because they are ‘the real experts’.
“I will listen to everyone, whether medics or midwives, cleaners, porters or physiotherapists, stop-smoking teams or our new breed of personal health advisors,” she said.
