Health pains

It was a classic piece of political spin intended to appeal to the masses. And it worked, even though there was little likelihood of the Tories, if they had remained in power, dismantling the Health Service. It also explains why David Cameron has promised to safeguard the health budget if he comes to power; he does not want to be wrongfooted by Labour.

Yet this uncomfortable political truce masks the fact that the NHS cannot be left unreformed – irrespective of the funding safeguards offered by the main parties. Its priorities are already evolving to

take account of an ageing population and the desire of people to be treated as day patients wherever possible. This is borne out by the reduction in the actual number of hospital beds over the past 20 years, at a time when individuals are living longer.

As the biggest-spending Whitehall department, the NHS should not be immune from the financial realities of the day. Reform, the leading think-tank, suggests greater competition. However, the independent treatment centres are not a panacea, as highlighted by the tragic death of Dr John Hubley, from Leeds, after a routine operation went

tragically wrong at one of these units in Bradford.

Reform is probably right to suggest that political interference will delay change. Nevertheless, the question is how the NHS should be reformed. Unfortunately, the election is unlikely to provide a long-term prescription.