This press release from Wal-Mart subsidiary Asda catches the eye, for several reasons.

The concept of cancer provokes fear that is both wholly rational (the thought of our own bodies' cells trying to kill us) and can lead to irrationality. Perhaps it is a sign of an age without religious faith that cancer - practically a pseudonym for death, rather than the long-term condition it will one day be - has acquired doctrinal status within the church of healthcare.

Writing in today's Daily Telegraph, Health Secretary Andrew Lansley outlines his four criteria for NHS service change.

He writes of the key tests, "First, there must be clarity about the clinical evidence base underpinning the proposals. Second, they must have the support of the GP commissioners involved. Third, they must genuinely promote choice for their patients. Fourth, the process must have genuinely engaged the public, patients and local authorities".

The Coalition Agreement starts with three words, in 56-point type – Freedom, Fairness, Responsibility.

Let’s judge what it specifically says about health policy (and related issues) as such.

And policy people, you now have your three key words for the next period of government. Think FFR at all times.

You can download the PDF here.

Just the links, for now - will provide analysis and commentary once the government website works properly!

NHS

Public health

Social care and disability

and also of relevance,

Congratulations to Lib Dem health spokesman Norman Lamb MP, who is to be Chief Parliamentary and Political Adviser to the Deputy Prime Minister. OK, it's not actually deputy Deputy Prime Minister, but a headline can only be so long.

He'll be in the Cabinet Office, attending cabinet meetings, making the coalition work - or trying to do so. In the latter context, he will also be a deputy whip.

You may remember our recent exclusive about KPMG being commissioned to review the DH and ALBs' back office functions.

Various supplementary questions occurred to me, and were duly asked.

Thanks to the DH FOI team for such a prompt response: their answers, and the scope document, follow below.

A few observations about all this:
- There were no final meetings held with the bidders. This seems surprising.

This latest in the NHS Confederation’s policy salon series, in association with the Kings Fund, is going to be more difficult than usual to write up coherently.

One reason for this is that, in addition to the Chatham House Rules (which are fine), much of the research informing the presentation and discussion is in peer review or yet to be published.

So there are no hard numbers here; broadly, what I will try to do is to give a summary of the themes, trends and discussion.

The novelty of policy evaluation

Could this afternoon see the first glimmer of health-related policy from the Liberal Conservatives?

The Big Society schtick has some potential to be beneficial, if it were to help crack NHS Stalinism (where many other attempts have failed miserably).

It could also move towards some form of meaningful citizen and user engagemnet and involvement - if the powers that be feel tremendously brave.

Health policy ‘lifers’ will remember reports of ex-Health Secretary Dr John Reid’s advice to his cabinet colleague Tessa Jowell when he quit the role in 2006. Wrongly believing that Jowell was next-in-line for the DH, Reid warned her, “don’t touch health; I’ve spent all the money”.

Those of you who have ever swung an axe to split a log will know the Newtonian rule that you start at the top.