IF THERE was as much actual capital in our local NHS as there was political capital made out of it, we could build a new hospital.
The great 'North West London Which Hospitals are being Downgraded?' debate has seen nearly everyone chip in - from the borderlands of Ealing to Harrow itself.
Now we see Stanmore's Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital trust will get the money it needs to repair its crumbling buildings after all.
What a coincidence. It seems like only yesterday the trust's medical director was threatening to stand against Tony McNulty in the election on the issue.
Announced yesterday morning, it's thrillingly close to the wire for this kind of thing - ie the official start of the campaigning season when vote-currying announcements like this are verboten.
Meanwhile, slipped out quietly in board papers is the news that Northwick Park will need an eye-watering £70million to bring its infrastructure up to scratch, and £20m of it urgently.
All this at a time when NHS managers are sharpening their axes for further cuts anyway - regardless of which party takes power in May.
So exciting times for people with lower back pain, and continued worry for anyone else who might need to go to hospital.
