However, the realpolitik of A&E closures and private involvement makes it a hard issue to campaign on.
Mr McMahon writes: “Back in the mists of time the Labour/Lib Dem Scottish executive wanted to rationalise health care in Lanarkshire, where there are three general hospitals. The SNP opposed it ferociously, and scored political success on the back of that opposition. The change was abandoned when the SNP took power.
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“The idea which, remember, experts say would improve health care, has been talked about by the SNP administration. Oh the irony. But here’s a fascinating fact: Gray is the local MSP for Monklands hospital, though he is ‘recused’ from making decisions about it as a minister to avoid any conflicts of interest.
“Imagine what would happen in the run up to the 2026 Holyrood election if the SNP proposed something similar? Would Labour and the other parties accept the clinical arguments, think long-term about the future of the NHS and patient care, for which they might be responsible should they win? It would be nice to think so. Or perhaps simply naïve. It’s a question the opposition should be asked. Where do their priorities lie? Patients, or power?
“Which brings us back to the problem facing all governments – the massive difficulties in affecting any change. There was once a hope that the Scottish parliament would do politics differently. Be more consensual. Work across parties for the common good. A quarter of a century on and there’s little sign of that. Might that change if people realise that unless there is radical change in the NHS, it is doomed to a spiral of decline?”
You can read Peter MacMahon’s column here