The government finds itself in a really odd position when it comes to good news about the NHS. In the last month two prestigious organisations operating in the field of comparative international work have said that compared with other health systems, the NHS does between ‘pretty well' and ‘very well'.

This is not to say that everything is fantastic, but it is to say that international comparison puts the NHS in quite a good light. So sharing in our national delight what do the Coalition Government have to say about this? Do their chests burst with pride as the NHS they claim to love, compares so well with our neighbours?