We've learned a huge amount about our NHS over the last 18 months. We've learned just how much we need it, and just how important its strength is to the functioning of the country as a whole. At the same time, we've also learned a lot about what the service is and isn't good at, and about the limits of its capacity.

This seems like a good time then, as we (hopefully) emerge from the greatest health crisis of our generation, to think about the future of the NHS and the wider health sector. Some of the trends we are seeing are deep causes for concern.