The NHS has overtaken immigration as the top election priority for most voters.

A poll conducted by ComRes for ITV found that 50% of those asked chose the NHS as their top concern, which is an 11% rise since December. As concern over the NHS rises, the percentage of people who see immigration as a top concern is slowly falling – from 52% in September, 49% in December and now 46% in this latest survey.

This means that although controlling immigration is still one of the top three issues voters think the Government should prioritise – followed by keeping down the cost of everyday items – it is no longer seen as the most important issue and is quickly being outstripped by the NHS.

The shift has emerged after the crisis in the NHS has continued to worsen; last week the British Red Cross were called in to help relieve pressure on struggling A&E departments.

35% of people see these problems as the Coalition’s fault , while 22% said it was the last Labour Government that is responsible for these problems. And when asked about how the NHS could be sorted out, 71% of people think significant organisational reform is needed.

The right to universal health care remains widely supported by most – 47% disagree that people who can afford it should have to pay towards the cost of their treatment under the NHS.

So while the Tories might think it fit to neglect the NHS – both while in office and in their manifesto – the public don’t agree.