HEALTH Secretary Alan Milburn is facing a shock eleventh hour electoral challenge - from one of his own doctors.

As nominations for candidates closed last night, consultant pathologist Dr Craig Platt emerged as an Independent, standing against the career politician who has been running the National Health Service for the past two years.

Father-of-two Dr Platt, who works at Staffordshire General Hospital in the West Midlands, feels the views of grassroots doctors and nurses are being overlooked and some aspects of the health service need improvement.

While most of the NHS debate has been about funding, Dr Platt, 40, is more concerned that any future Health Secretary pays more heed to the views of NHS staff.

He thinks a future Government should also think carefully whether yet another NHS shake-up is necessary.

"While funding is incredibly important, getting a clear understanding of the feelings of the staff and having an empathy with them is something which will be one of the main thrusts of my campaign," said Dr Platt.

"I want to stop political parties interfering with the structural organisation of the health service, which is something that is done on a frequent basis."

Dr Platt said the "huge changes" proposed by the present Government would consume too many man-hours and was a distraction from the main purpose of the health service - treating sick patients.

"To look at major structural reorganisation at this time may not be the best use of resources.

"There is supposed to be no shortage of cash for the health service at the moment. Perhaps they should just put the cash in and not start tinkering with the structure," the consultant added.

Mr Milburn said: "Labour is building an NHS to be proud of. We are investing more money than ever before. The NHS plan will see thousands more doctors and nurses with new hospitals being built. This is radical change that we can all be proud of."

Dr Platt plans to launch his campaign leaflet in the Darlington constituency on Bank Holiday Monday.

A full-time working NHS consultant, he says his campaigning will be restricted to weekends.

As the father of a child with cerebral palsy, he also wants to highlight the need for improved antenatal care to prevent brain injuries and the need for life-long support for disabled people.

Dr Platt, who lives in Eccleshall in Staffordshire, accepts he is not going to win the Darlington seat but hopes that, if Mr Milburn is re-elected, he will take heed of some of the points made during his campaign.

Gordon Pybus, a Darlington campaigner for the rights of disabled people, last night said he had a lot of admiration for the consultant.

"I agree with him that the NHS does want sorting out. Obviously he knows more about the issues than I do,"said Mr Pybus