(Reuters) – Concerns about the future of the NHS have boosted support for the opposition’s healthcare policies, but that has yet to translate into increased support for Labour as a whole, according to the latest Reuters/Ipsos MORI poll.

June’s survey shows a third of people now think that Labour has the best policies on healthcare (37 percent) compared to 21 percent. This is a Labour lead of 16 points, compared to 9 points in March last year, when the question was last asked.

It is the highest lead Labour has enjoyed on healthcare – a key voting issue – since 2002. Healthcare was the second most important issue to voting at the 2010 general election after the economy.

The Conservative-led coalition government last week diluted plans for radical reform of the cherished National Health Service after complaints from nurses, doctors and patients.

Prime Minister David Cameron said his government had got things wrong after draft legislation prompted fears it planned to dismantle a system that gives patients free access to doctors and hospitals.

When asked about the NHS over the next 12 months, the most negative impact of the government’s reforms was expected to be seen on waiting times; two in five of those surveyed by Ipsos MORI thought waiting times will get worse.

While a significant minority thought the next 12 months would bring greater efficiency to the NHS (20 percent), twice as many thought the efficiency with which the NHS spends public money will get worse (39 percent). A similar proportion thought it would stay the same (35 percent). However, the poll also suggests that concerns about healthcare have not yet shifted people’s voting plans.

In fact, support for the Conservatives increased slightly this month while the Labour vote share fell. Among all those who are certain to vote, 37 percent would vote Conservative, 39 percent would vote Labour while 11 percent would vote Liberal Democrat, the government’s junior coalition partners.