Any campaign will do

The news that a health quango is looking to do to do the same to cardiac services in Swansea as happened to neurosurgery is a surprise. The fact that the Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee has been allowed to announce what is likely to be a vastly controversial review just weeks before an Assembly election is astonishing.

A WHSSC representative told the local community health group is that a review is necessary to overcome “a lot of perverse political incentives, which have nothing to do with patients." Whilst such apparent candour on the part of paid officials is no doubt welcome in some quarters, we nonetheless wait to see if the same individual does not find himself suspended come Monday morning - as has lately become the norm.

Needless to say, this unexpected turn of events is an absolute gift to candidates desperately seeking to sink their teeth into a meaningful campaign cause. We can expect a chorus of condemnation from constituency and regional hopefuls with all the attendant outrage & shroud-waving. Similarly, someone is bound to mention that the health minister is a local contestant.

But what will be really intriguing is to see how the local paper manages an about-face in demanding that cardio services are retained after it has spent weeks slagging off NHS staff and the quality of clinical care in the city.