The head of Birmingham’s biggest hospital has been drafted in to try to save the Government’s struggling health policy.

Julie Moore, chief executive of the trust which runs Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital, is to join a new panel set up to “listen” to the concerns of medical staff and patients.

She is one of five members of the “NHS Future Forum” created by Health Secretary Andrew Lansley, which will be chaired by Steve Field, chairman of the Royal College of General Practitioners and an honorary professor at both the University of Warwick and the University of Birmingham.

The forum will play a key role in the Government’s “listening exercise”, launched in response to opposition to its plans.

Mr Lansley said: “We are taking the opportunity of a natural break in the passage of the Bill to pause, listen, reflect and improve. This will help realise our ultimate goal of modernising the NHS to protect it for the future.

“This is an opportunity for people to share their views and have their voices heard.”

Prof Field said: “It’s a great pleasure to chair the NHS Future Forum. Listening to people on the ground is vital, and I see this as a real chance for people to have their say in shaping the future of the NHS.”