Murray said the NHS was at its best when the message from the top was clear, adding the ‘focus and targets of this Government on electives, UEC and access to GP's and dentists remain'.

The health and social care secretary said he was ‘determined that we accelerate our fundamental transformation and modernisation of the NHS by making sure that we make the fullest possible use of technology, digitisation, and AI'.

He added: ‘I want you to have the confidence that I will back you in using new technology to improve the experiences and outcomes of patients. I believe people expect their public services to be as easy and convenient to use as they get from the private sector, and it is our job to make that a reality.'

Revealing he had suffered from a ‘serious and rare neurological condition' that threatened his ability to run, write and talk, Murray said: ‘The NHS gave me a second chance at life and I will fight for it every single day with the strength that it has given me back, and I need your help to do that.'

He concluded: ‘I want to work with you to implement the 10-Year Plan to quicken the pace of reform by embracing technology, digitisation and AI to innovate and take the right risks and to know that as you do so, I will be by your side. We're going in the right direction and we must help ease our foot off the pedal for a second. I'm looking forward to working with you very much and I cannot wait to see what we can achieve together.'

Chief executive of The NHS Alliance, Sir Ciarán Devane, said: ‘NHS leaders will welcome the secretary of state's renewed commitment to working with them throughout the system to build on recent NHS progress with a continuity of purpose rather than changed priorities.

‘Local health service leaders share his determination to maintain and accelerate those improvements.'