Former health secretary Alan Milburn has joined the Department of Health and Social Care's board.

Milburn was Labour MP for Darlington from 1992 to 2010, health minister from 1997 to 1998 and secretary of state for health between 1999 and 2003.

He will serve on the board as lead non-executive member.

The government said that Milburn has a proven track record of reducing waiting times and improving satisfaction in the NHS.

One of the new government's missions is to fix a 'broken' NHS and in order to achieve it, experts are being brought in to help develop policy.

Members of the department board provide independent advice and expertise to inform the department’s strategy, performance and governance and the Lead Non-Executive Member provides additional support to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care in his role as Chair of the board.

Health and social care secretary Wes Streeting said: "As Secretary of State, Alan made the reforms which helped deliver the shortest waiting times and highest patient satisfaction in the history of the NHS.

"This government has inherited a broken health service with some of the longest waiting times and lowest patient satisfaction in history. I am delighted to welcome Alan to the department board, where he will offer advice on turning the NHS around once again.

"His unique expertise and experience will be invaluable and he has an outstanding track record of delivering better care for patients."

Milburn said: "I am delighted to be appointed to this role.

"Having spent three decades working in health policy, I have never seen the NHS in a worse state. Big reforms will be needed to make it fit for the future.

"I am confident this government has the right plans in place to transform the health service and the health of the nation. I’m looking forward to working with them to achieve that mission."