Conservative leader David Cameron will seek to reclaim the initiative on the NHS as he demands new legislation to create greater independence for the health service.
Last month it emerged Chancellor Gordon Brown was considering devolving day-to-day control of the NHS to an independent board if he became Prime Minister.
But Mr Cameron will insist he and shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley had floated similar calls for more independence for the NHS back in February.
The Tory leader will use a visit to Great Ormond Street Hospital in London to build on his promise at last week's party conference that his priorities could be summed up in three letters: "NHS".
At a speech to the King's Fund later, he will set out Conservative principles on the NHS but stop short of detailed proposals.
It will include a plan to introduce an NHS Independence Bill which will offer a statutory framework to take politicians out of the day-to-day running of the NHS.
He will say: "Our plan is to publish a Bill in the New Year, and we hope that the Government will work with us on the details and help produce a Bill that commands support on all sides of the House of Commons."
With Government backing, the Bill could be implemented by Spring 2008, he will add.
"It would give the NHS the best possible 60th birthday present. So my message to the Government is clear: The NHS matters too much to be treated like a political football.
"Let's work together to improve the NHS for everyone. Let's give the NHS fair funding, and let's give taxpayers better value for money by getting rid of the targets and bureaucracy and pen-pushing that's all about politicians' priorities, not the needs of patients."
