I'm grateful to the sharp-eyed and shrewd Daily Telegraph health correspondent Martin Beckford for pointing out that Our Saviour And Liberator Andrew Lansley's note to the Health Select Committee is now online.

The text is copied below, but as Martin notes, the striking point is that Monitor's proposed ability to fine commissioners is formally gone. Monitor will of course still be able to fine trusts.

Irwin Brown of the Socialist Health Association on reform absurdities and realistic strategies

The longer this week goes on, the more the brilliant April first piece in the HSJ looks like reality. The fact that they printed such a piss-taking article shows how low the stock of LaLa has fallen. What with that and the LaLa rap song by MC NxtGen, things are getting a bit silly.

The health policy universe was today in mourning as news sunk in of Nadine Dorries MP's standing down from the Commons health select committee to serve on the chairmen's panel instead.

Thanks to Mike Birtwistle of MHP Health Mandate for the information.

Health economist nonpareil Professor Alan Maynard considers how we might do something really radical, like focusing on how to make commissioning more efficient. And he seeks your input.

’The current “pause” will be used to sell the proposals, with much sucking-up to the professions and other lobbies, but no real changes in policy.’

The Coalition is likely to plough on with its reforms of the NHS. The current “pause” will be used to sell the proposals, with much sucking-up to the professions and other lobbies, but no real changes in policy.

If you were going to set up this NHS Future Forum as a genuine, robustly independent listening exercise, would you ask very strong supporter of the White Paper, shortlisted-but-not-appointed chief medical officer candidate and former RCGP chair Dr Steve Field to chair it?

Me neither.

......................................................................

Click here for details of 'Andrew Lansley's Millwall Tendency', via subscription-based Health Policy Intelligence.

Today's Times editorial moots the possibility of Lib Dem MP Dr Vincent Cable as the next Secretary Of State For Health.

It is a very interesting possibility. The Lib Dems will need a 'win' such as heading up a big, spending department if they get hammered in the local elections and lose the AV referendum, which opinion polls currently think likely.

Cable also brings a human hinterland to the world of front-line politics. He is liked across party political divisions. He had no expenses issues.

It has been pretty clear for some time that, in dealing with financial stringency, one of the responses PCTs have been using is demand management, more or less explicitly.

This evening, this story is 'breaking' on BBC News via a survey of members of the British Orthopaedic Association. Referral thresholds have been changed, leading to restrictions and delays.

......................................................................

Health Service Journal's Ben Clover provides us with a much-needed smile, thanks to this story about a proposed national social enterprise to do communications for GP commissioning consortia.

Apparently, it would offer 'gold' and 'silver' packages; campaigns; an FOI service; support around reconfiguration and best of all, a policy helpline to DH.

Yes, you did read that last bit right.

The new report from the health select committee, Commissioning - further issues, is now online.

It is a thoughtful analysis of issues, and as such, comes up with some points that will scarcely improve the gloomy mood of DH ministers.

They will rhetorically welcome the report, and promise to take due note of it in their forthcoming 'hearing but not listening' exercise.

......................................................................

The Hansard text of today's Commons chat on NHS reform is now online. Copied below:

NHS Reform

4.41 pm