These are the letters exchanged between Lord Darzi and the Prime Minister:

Dear Prime Minister,

Two years ago, you appointed me with the task of leading the NHS Next Stage Review. Over the course of a year, we bought together thousands of clinicians and patients to determine the way forward for the health service, and in June 2008, we published our final report, High Quality Care for All.

For the past year, I have overseen implementation of the report's conclusions, and as I recently reported to you, the NHS has taken great strides forward. This progress was only made possible through the tireless work of the Labour Government that secured the massive increase in investment and guided through the difficult but necessary reforms of the past decade.

Raising the quality of care for patients is what has driven and inspired me throughout my career - as a surgeon and as a minister. Making quality the organising principle of the NHS has revitalised professional pride, created great appetite for improvement, and built enormous momentum.

The NHS is now the first health system in the world to systematically measure, record and openly publish the quality of care that it achieves. Perhaps more than that, however, has been the tremendous change in the level of ambition for what is possible. We set the goal of high quality care for all; under your leadership, the NHS now has the investment and the depth of clinical talent to achieve that ambition.

I believe that it took great courage to appoint a frontline doctor to undertake a fundamental review of the future direction of the NHS. I am deeply grateful to you for having given me the privilege of serving in your Government, the freedom to make tough but important decisions, and the support to make change happen.

As you know, I have maintained my busy clinical practice and research contributions during my time as a minister. The time has now come for me to return to care for my patients, lead my academic department, and continue my research on a full time basis. I will, therefore, be stepping down from my post as parliamentary under-secretary in the Department of Health when parliament goes into recess for the summer.

The NHS is the greatest expression of social solidarity found anywhere in the world: it is as much a social movement as it is a health system. It is not just that we stand together but what we stand for: fairness, empathy and compassion. It is for these reasons that we all care so deeply about its future; and it is why I stand ready to contribute to ongoing efforts to invest in and improve the NHS, in any way I can.

My thanks and best wishes,

Ara Darzi.

Dear Ara

Thank you for your letter setting out your reasons for wanting to step back from your role as a minister in the Government in order to focus more fully on your clinical work and research. Like the many others who have worked with you closely, I recognise your passionate commitment to your work as a world-leading surgeon, and your determination to devote more of your time to the care of your patients. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your outstanding contribution to the Government over the past two years.

Your contribution to the NHS has been immense. Your groundbreaking review of NHS services acted to renew one of Britain's most important institutions and set a direction for the NHS which I believe will be of defining importance to healthcare in Britain over the next decade - a more personal, preventive service, with high-quality care at its centre.

Your leadership has made possible far greater clinical involvement in decision-making at every level. Rather than just a report you have created a movement for change and improvement across the health service.

I am delighted that you have agreed to take on a new role as a Health and Life Sciences Ambassador for the Government and will chair a new NHS Global Forum to promote the NHS and the UK's life sciences industry around the world.

It has been my great pleasure to work closely with you over the last two years and I look forward to drawing on your wisdom and expertise into the future.

Yours sincerely,

Gordon.

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