In a bid to reassure attendees, speaking at the Local Government Association's conference earlier this month, the recently appointed health secretary, Sajid Javid, was quick to reiterate two points which, to some, may appear superfluous, but are, nonetheless, important distinctions.

First, his full job title: secretary of state for health and social care. His emphasis on the latter, a nod to a determination I hope, shared by the entire cabinet to finally grasp the nettle and deal with what has burgeoned over the watch of successive Governments into a substantial problem.