The NHS is a national icon that spends a lot of taxpayer's money, sometimes wastefully. This is an account of a Labour Health Minister's involvement in reforming a reluctant NHS. It assesses Labour's stewardship of the NHS, warts and all. Drawing on this experience, it examines the Coalition Government's plans for reform, as NHS funding moves from feast to famine. The book concludes with a description of the financial and accountability framework that any government should aim for if NHS efficiency and value for money are to improve.