Mr Dobson told the BBC he intended to stay in his post "for a long time to come" and he lashed out at what he called "fancy Nancies" who speculate in the media on the ups and downs of political life.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme he said: "I am the secretary of state for health, I intend remaining the secretary of state for health, I hope to grace your programme for a long time to come in that job.

"It is my responsibility to deliver changes and improvements in the health service that the people of this country want and we are doing it."

Milburn tipped

Responding to an article in the Financial Times that "close associates" of Tony Blair were briefing against him, Mr Dobson said: "There is a sort of silly season which goes on about this time every year, [with stories] about 'will there be cabinet changes, won't there be cabinet changes?'

"To the best of my recollection, the sort of fancy Nancies who were writing them were saying first of all that several of us, including me, would not even get in the Cabinet - then, each time, that we would be the ones who got the chop.

"Have you ever see them write an article saying, 'I got it all wrong with that speculation'? I haven't - but they are getting it wrong."

"All I am doing is getting on with the job the prime minister gave me," said Mr Dobson. "I have never had a hint from him that he is any way dissatisfied with what the National Health Service is doing or what I am doing."

The former number two at the Department of Health, Alan Milburn, who is the current treasury chief secretary, is being tipped for Mr Dobson's job by the press.