WE appreciate political leaders who listen, so David Cameron is to be applauded for taking heed of the deeprooted concerns over plans to reform the NHS.

An independent panel of experts, under the banner of the NHS Future Forum, has recommended “a major re-write” of the plans, much to the delight of Nick Clegg, who staked his future on the changes being watered down.

But how “major” will the rewrite really be? Amendments will have to be made to appease considerable public disquiet. But the Government can accept the panel’s recommendations and still press ahead with the general thrust of its reforms, notably greater involvement by the private sector.

What is significant is the suggested pace of change, with the forum calling for the overhaul to be more gradual.

But while we welcome the involvement of an independent panel in reining in the changes, we also question the wisdom of not using such expertise earlier in the process.

Given the enormous social and political importance of the NHS, wouldn’t it have made more sense to employ a panel of independent experts at the beginning of the Government’s deliberations?

Had the coalition put the horse before the cart, it would surely have found a smoother passage for its proposal.

Instead, Mr Cameron is left with a Health Secretary who is generally perceived to have made a bit of a hash of it.

The NHS has to evolve with the times – but it is far too important for change to be rushed.