Consultants rejected a new contract last year

Dr Reid, who took up his post earlier this month, told BBC One's Breakfast with Frost he was ready to discuss some "tweaks" to the proposed working conditions for hospital doctors.

Ten days ago he had been adamant he would not back down when consultants threatened their first industrial action for 30 years in protest at the new contracts.

But on Sunday he told the Frost programme: "The consultants say they have six problems. I want to listen to them. I value very much their professionalism, their integrity and their in-put."

Dr Reid said changes could come after a meeting with consultants' representatives on 4 July.

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"I will listen to what they have to say about the six points they have in reserve, that they have difficulties with, if I can shift on some of those, if I can tweak."

But, he added: "The red line is that the patient in the NHS has to come first."

Ten days ago doctors at a British Medical Association conference in London overwhelmingly backed calls to ballot consultants on possible action.

It followed the government's continued refusal to re-open talks on a new contract, which was rejected by consultants last year.

Consultants overwhelmingly rejected a proposed new contract last year.

They voted against substantial pay rises because of fears they would be forced to work evenings and weekends.

They were also concerned that the contract would give NHS managers too much say over how they work.

Dr Reid's predecessor as health secretary, Alan Milburn, consistently rejected calls from the BMA to reopen talks on the contract.