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Lasting impressions?

• Betsan Powys
• 6 Jun 07, 07:07 PM

So it turns out that Carwyn Jones' hint on hospital reconfiguration last night was a pretty big hint. Given the events here today, thought you'd be interested in a story making the headlines in Scotland.

In Scotland, a fierce political row has broken out over a decision by the new SNP adminstration to change the direction of health service policy. Scotland's new health secretary, Nicola Sturgeon, told the Scottish Parliament that two accident and emergency departments - which had been listed for closure - would instead be reprieved. Her announcement was welcomed by hospital campaigners in Lanarkshire and Ayrshire but overturns an independent review which recommended greater centralisation of emergency care. Labour said it was a populist decision which meant people would die.

When the Scottish National Party chose to govern Scotland as a minority administration, many forecast they'd be hemmed in, unable to make an impact. Three weeks on, the sparks are flying. Labour and the LibDems - the previous administration - opted to concentrate emergency care in fewer Scottish hospitals to bring together expertise. Today, the SNP's Nicola Sturgeon scrapped their plans ... But the Scottish National Party are not acting alone. As with a number of recent popular issues, they have the support of the Scottish Tories. They're picking their battlegrounds. For Labour - the SNP's main opponents - it looks like being a long campaign.

Picking battlegrounds, reprieves on hospital closures, long campaigns, SNP-Tory alliances - sound familiar?