"An insightful and thought-provoking guide to the challenges facing the NHS after it has been through the trauma of Covid, and as it looks ahead to how to embrace the rest of the twenty-first century. Much of the analysis and many of the stories will ring true to anyone who has experienced the NHS first-hand. Anyone who loves the NHS and wants to see it thrive would do well to read this book." - Rt Hon. Matt Hancock MP, Secretary of State for Health, 2018-21 "This is a brilliant account, exhaustively researched with a balanced assessment of the good, the bad and the ugly. It's a great narrative of how incredible our NHS can be but with chilling stories of the damage some patients have suffered and of a culture that is often closed and defensive. I hope this book will trigger an urgent debate about whether our NHS is as good as it can and should be - and what therefore should be done about it." - Sir Stephen Bubb, director of Charity Futures and the Oxford Institute of Charity "A tour de force ... This book is a balanced, thoughtful account which recognises the existence of vested interests within the health sector and its frighteningly challenging agenda of rising demand and expectations, workforce shortages and the urgent need to adopt new ways of working. It recognises the power and value of the great ideal that underpins the health service but is not starry-eyed about its prospects ... For anyone seeking a better understanding of how our most cherished institution really works and its prospects, this is a must-read." - Niall Dickson CBE, former chief executive of The King's Fund, the General Medical Council and the NHS Confederation "This is a truly insightful tour d'horizon which should rightly warn anyone away from silver bullets to solve issues facing the NHS. But anyone seeking to make sensible improvements will find much good sense in its pages." - Rt Hon. Jeremy Hunt MP, Secretary of State for Health, 2012-18