Patricia has been the Member of Parliament for Leicester West since 1997. She took over from Greville Janner (now Lord Janner) who served as MP for 27 years, following his father, Barnet Janner.

Patricia is an Australian by birth, but her husband, Bill, is Leicester-born and his father's family goes back many generations in Leicester. Patricia was educated at the Canberra Girls' Grammar School and Newnham College, Cambridge University.

Before entering Parliament Patricia worked for several organisations. Her first job was working for Age Concern where she campaigned for a better deal for pensioners. After Age Concern she moved to Liberty to stand up for Civil Liberties and Human Rights.

Patricia was a member of the Social Security Select Committee before taking up her first Ministerial post as Economic Secretary at the Treasury (1998-1999). Patricia was then appointed as Minister for Small Business and e-Commerce at the Department of Trade and Industry (1999-2001) before becoming Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in 2001.  Most recently Patricia served as Secretary of State for Health from May 2005 – June 2007.

Patricia and Bill have two children, one boy and one girl. In her spare time, Patricia enjoys reading, theatre, music and gardening.