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.

Nadine's departure from the NHS beat was particularly catastrophic from the point of view of her wonderful blog post today, in which she says "If the private sector isn’t allowed to ‘cherry pick’ the services they provide, why not?"

This is a spectacular comment, from a spectacular performer. It may not be entirely without good reason that Labour MP Dawn Primarolo told the House Of Commons, "The Honorable Lady has asserted many things to be facts that are not".