Leslie Turnberg, Baron Turnberg

Leslie Arnold Turnberg, Baron Turnberg (born 22 March 1934), is a British medical professional and an author of many publications and books related to the medical and health services fields. His experience extends to areas of research in these fields, and maintaining a clinical practice. He has published five books and some 150 articles on medical and scientific research. He has written two books on the history of Israel: Beyond the Balfour Declaration; the 100 Year Quest for Israeli-Palestinian Peace was published in 2017, and Mandate: Britain's Palestinian Burden, 1919–1939 was published in 2021. In May 2024, Patients First: How to Save the NHS was published.

In 2000, he was made a life peer. He resigned from the Labour group in July 2019 over the party's approach to Brexit and handling of allegations of antisemitism. He rejoined the party in June 2020, but remains unaffiliated.

Early life and training Turnberg was born in Manchester to Hyman Turnberg (of Romanian-Jewish origin) and his wife Dolly (born in Manchester to Polish-Jewish parents). He studied medicine at Manchester University from 1952 to 1957, and completed his house posts in North Manchester hospitals, and trained at the Manchester Royal Infirmary and later in London at the Whittington Hospital and University College Hospital.

Medical career Professor and dean In 1973 Turnberg was appointed professor of medicine at Hope Hospital (now Salford Royal) in Salford, where he developed the site as a teaching hospital by expanding academic interests. Turnberg made contributions to the understanding of the absorption of electrolytes in the small bowel, gastric secretions, and other areas of gastroenterology. His other appointments included President of the Medical Protection Society from 1997 to 2007, Chairman of the Board of the Public Health Laboratory Service from 1997 to 2005, President of the Medical Council on Alcoholism from 2000 to 2005, Chair of the UK Forum for Genetics and Insurance from 1998 to 2002. He is fellow and former Vice President of the Academy of Medical Sciences. The UK government currently still regards animal testing as necessary, but science minister Lord Sainsbury of Turville said that a "major opportunity" now existed to make progress in improving the welfare of animals used in testing through the three R's. having the honour conferred by The Queen on 13 December 1994. On 4 May 2000 he was created a Life Peer by Letters Patent, taking the title Baron Turnberg, of Cheadle in the County of Cheshire.

At the House of Lords, Turnberg speaks frequently on medical practice, medical ethics, and the Middle East. and a parliamentary supporter of Labour Friends of Israel.

He resigned from the Labour group in July 2019 together with Ara Darzi and David Triesman. Turnberg cited dissatisfaction with the party's policies on foreign affairs, its approach to Brexit and what he called the "bypassing of parliamentary opinion" and the "overt anti-Semitism that permeates the party machine".

Personal life On the unexpected death of his son Daniel in 2007 he established a travelling fellowship that allows medical researchers from the Middle East to visit UK academic institutions.