So I thought I'd ask you, what's one thing that you think has changed significantly in your time away, if there is any, and one thing that you think really hasn't changed but should have changed?

Let me start there, if I can.

And it is lovely to be back and see new friends and old.

I think the thing which hasn't changed is we're still talking about some of the same things.

You know, 10 years ago, 12 years ago, 15 years ago, we were talking about integrated care.

We're talking about needing to move more into the community.

And we're still talking about it.

And why pretend it's going to be fine for staff?

What, what are you getting in terms of a sense of the state of the NHS, how health leaders are, are feeling, and, and what do you think is the NHS Alliance's role in supporting them?

There are a few things.

The first thing for me is that the fundamental truths, which are that the NHS has been and continues to be incredibly successful.

Uh, one of the consequences of that we-- is we have a, uh, an older population with a large number of frail elderly, for example, um, which demands a different model.

Um, but also demands the continuing excellence of, for example, the existing acute, um, hospitals, because that's why we are likely to live longer as well.

So those fundamental truths are there.

So the reform agenda that everybody talks about, whether it's about neighborhoods or it's about, um, supporting hospitals to focus on the people they really need to focus on and taking some of the other stuff away, those truths are there.

Any pointers to the sort of themes you'll be looking to address?