With regard to democratic accountability, the health boards have been in place since the Health Act 1970. Now is the time for change. We should agree they are no longer appropriate for the governance, planning and delivery of health policy. This debate is not an attempt to blame health boards or question the integrity of their members. It would be unproductive in the current debate either to blame or exonerate any one group. We could go on forever analysing and decrying past mistakes and failures, sharing stories from our own experience and localities. It is the job of the Government to move forward, propose solutions and get on with implementing them.