The challenges are manifold and complex; from money to the task of recruitment to crumbling reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete-built hospitals, every problem is likely to be of the wicked variety. All the while the march of an ageing, increasingly sedentary population will drive demand ever upwards, which in turn will ensure health inflation continues to run at least 2-3% hotter than in the wider economy. There will be opportunities of course, should the new incumbent find time to consider them. The role of AI in healthcare has been much vaunted and given the challenges, it is surely time to seriously test the possibilities it might present?

Thus far, the political parties vying for our votes have been relatively circumspect about their detailed plans for health and social care. Beyond the inevitable statements about ‘more doctors, nurses, appointments' etc and the tiresome promises to ‘cut out waste', any specifics about structure, roles and responsibilities or strategic direction have been for the most part absent.