how should @sajidjavid spend his first 100 days? My suggestions and spoiler alert: get out of the office and see for yourself the realities of health and social care
first, spend time with carers to learn about the vital and undervalued work they do for people with disabilities and many others in the 'informal' but essential care system
second, observe a primary care team respond to rapidly rising demand from patients and listen to their views on what needs to be done to improve care
third, shadow a mental health team supporting people in crisis and struggling to access the specialist care and support needed
fourth, join an ambulance team on a night shift to learn about the role of paramedics and the pressures they often face at the front door of hospitals
fifth, spend time in ED which you will find exceptionally busy and where delivering waiting time standards is well night impossible
sixth, join a meeting of operational managers in an acute hospital to see how they juggle competing demands on beds and often struggle to discharge patients in a timely way
seventh, join a community nurse on her visits to patients in their homes and learn about the expertise she brings to bear to support people remain independent
eighth, observe how public health teams in councils and PHE are working to contain the rise in infections and increase vaccination uptake - before you take decisions on the relaxation of the rules
ninth, visit a care home and spend time with domiciliary carers to understand the pressures they are under and hear their views on the state of social care
last but not least, wherever you go please take every opportunity to speak with patients and family members and listen to their lived experiences of the creaking health and care system
repeat the above dose on a regular basis to keep in touch with the services on which we all depend but which currently face unprecedented and worrying challenges
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