What surprised me as I engaged in discussion was that that all that I could say was: “that is the result of ministerial policy.” Usually people moan and I can explore their expectations or misunderstandings of policy or of practice.

How do politicians decide how to make the NHS better? Is it by considering their own core values, studying the evidence for what works best, consulting widely and then preparing policy? Experience suggests not.

Mrs Thatcher was advised by a general practitioner friend and her NHS soon resembled his model and style. Mr Blair had a 30-something adviser and a reviewer of the changes that New Labour pushed through commented when he presented his research findings that the new systems for access only suited 30-something middle class men. Mr Blair was memorably caught out by a BBC TV viewers’ panel on the topic during the following general election campaign.

I have not responded to the Welsh Health Minister’s requests for consultation since she announced to the Assembly that she had read all the responses about proposed NHS changes and was still going to do what she thought best and was then found to have ignored all the strong advice about neurosurgery service provision in South Wales. I am told that the Minister has an adviser on NHS policy and I wonder if the new Welsh NHS reflects his or her values and principles.

I would like to see the identities and priorities of the advisers of each candidate made public. Their identities may be known to a select few in the Sennedd village, but we should all know who they are. Then perhaps we can make a more informed decision about who is best placed to take Wales to where we want it to be.