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You can understand why the Conservatives are sensitive about the NHS.

It's an area the party has felt vulnerable on since .

So perhaps it's not surprising that David Cameron should spend a large amount of his time as leader trying to shoot that Labour fox.

, and the .

Only health and international development would be safe from cuts.

But now he's Prime Minister, is that a pledge David Cameron should keep?

Their coalition partners, the Lib Dems, certainly didn't think health service spending should be ringfenced.

They saw opportunities to save money in absolute terms.

Bureaucracy could be cut but rather than follow the current Conservative line of directing any savings to other parts of the health service, that money could be used to cut the deficit.

And there is now .

certainly thinks the pledge is a mistake - cutting off huge areas of potential savings.

And .

He'd like to see David Cameron rethink it, and be prepared to make real cuts in the NHS budget.

Of course, that will see Labour attack the coalition for breaking a promise to the electorate.

But if the country's financial situation is as bad as the Government's painting it, is it wise to rule out anything?

It's a debate I'm sure that will be going on within the coalition and beyond.

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