Parliamentary shuffle

This General Election is likely to see the largest change in MPs since 1945, helped in large part by the record number of those who are retiring (over 140 MPs, or more than 20 per cent). Regardless of the outcome, a hung parliament or narrow majority for whichever party will bring significant changes and the transfer of seats from Labour to the Conservatives.

Industry has worked hard to develop relationships and understanding with current MPs, including a small number with particular health interests. A considerable amount of this will be lost in May and the pressure will be on to connect with new MPs and grow their understanding of industry and disease area issues. This is a priority because of the imminent pressures on industry and the NHS, because competing voices will be proactive in their communication to new MPs, and because Parliament's influence should grow after the election.

Labour's large Parliamentary majorities mean it has pushed through its business with little fear of defeat. As a result, industry activity with MPs has more often focused on awareness raising rather than actual policy decision making. All this could change. A narrow majority will mean more power for Parliament in policy as ministers will need to be more responsive to individual MP's concerns.

There are immediate issues on which industry needs to engage new MPs. The financial pressure on the NHS means the case for the value of medicines must be made afresh. Locally and nationally, the NHS believes that the medicines budget is ripe for savings, seemingly without regard for the recent PPRS price cuts and government support for industry through the Office for Life Sciences. Despite recent reviews, NICE remains largely untouched as a significant hurdle to market access. What's more, if the Conservatives win, industry will face a new value-based pricing reimbursement structure.

Others will also be communicating with MPs. For example, one can expect that NICE will brief new MPs on its view of HTA and industry will want to balance this with its own perspective.

In the event that the Conservatives are elected with an overall majority, over half the parliamentary party will be elected for the first time. This new intake could have a major impact on the decisions of the new government. A publication by hanover reviewing Conservative candidates shows that there is likely to be a strong group of new MPs with health expertise. They are inheriting safe seats from retiring MPs, or fighting seats that require only small swings – swings that should be achievable even with narrow polls.

They will be among the leading voices on healthcare and life sciences, and influential players in the development of healthcare policy in Parliament. They may even, in time, find themselves serving as Ministers in the Department of Public Health, as the Conservatives would rename the DH.

Penny Mordaunt
A former Diabetes UK director, Penny helped to develop provision of services through improved diagnosis and access. She has a strong interest in the care of the elderly, and worked to bring together charities from the sector to help the Conservatives develop new policy. If successful she would win Portsmouth North from Labour.

Dr Sarah Wollaston
This local Devon GP was tempted to run because "the health service is under-represented in Parliament". A former trainer of GPs and medical students and forensic medical examiner for the police, she is particularly concerned about "the devastating effects of binge-drinking and alcohol-related crime".

Dr Daniel Poulter
Dr Poulter specialises in obstetrics, gynaecology and women's health. He is selected for the safe seat of Central Suffolk & Ipswich North. A one-time aide to Tory health spokesperson Anne Milton MP, his other interests include mental illness.

Helen Grant
The daughter of a surgeon and a nurse, and sister to a doctor and a nurse, Helen is a former non-executive director of Croydon PCT and founder member of a local group campaigning to save NHS services in Maidstone, the safe seat she inherits from Anne Widdecombe. 

Selected health-interested MPs retiring at the election

The Author
Andrew Harrison is director at Hanover Communications

This article is based on the hanover publication Who's who in health: the 2010 Conservative Intake

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