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Can politicians ever win? Not only is it doubtful whether the new hospital would ever provide value for money but, even more importantly, Lansley is implementing his pre-election promise to keep the existing hospitals. Hartlepool and Stockton voters were told the proposed new hospital would be cancelled by the Tories: they voted out Labour in Stockton South; and increased the Tory vote in Hartlepool by 12%. The big question now is what happens to the volume and quality of services in the two hospitals and the rest of the health economy.