How NHS reforms could decide the 2015 election
By Alex Stevenson
The fate of the coalition's NHS reforms could prove crucial in 21 marginal constituencies which feature struggling NHS trusts, according to new research.
Under proposed boundary changes, the Conservatives will be on the defensive in 13 constituencies in which a hospital yet to achieve foundation trust status is located. The Lib Dems will be defending five vulnerable seats.
The NHS is one of the top three priorities for voters in key marginals, recent polling has suggested.
Its political sensitivity is set to be heightened by 2015 because of the coalition's reforms. All hospitals which have not achieved foundation trust status by April 2014 face having their management arrangements changed by the Department of Health.
"The NHS is going to face incredibly tough decisions on hospital closures in the coming years. There are strong quality and efficiency arguments for closing some services, but doing so will be a huge test of political nerve," MHP Health Mandate managing director Mike Birtwistle said.
"With the opinion polls continuing to be close, the fate of these 21 trusts – and the way in which the NHS engages with local communities about them – could determine the outcome of the next election."
Among the politicians whose fate could be influenced by the NHS are former health secretary Alan Johnson, shadow health minister Liz Kendall and Tory backbencher Nick de Bois, a vocal advocate of the coalition's NHS reforms.
Lib Dem health minister Paul Burstow's Sutton and Cheam constituency is also among those affected.
