With the appointment of Yvette Cooper as secretary of state for health and social care, England will now be served by its ninth health secretary in just 10 years. I welcome this appointment and the opportunity it presents for renewed focus and leadership across health and social care. “The challenges facing health and care services are extensive and complex”The challenges facing health and care services are extensive and complex. However, if there is one lesson that recent years have taught us, it is that systems do not deliver care, people do. If we truly want safer care, better patient experiences, improved productivity and a sustainable future for health and social care, we must start by investing in the culture, safety, leadership, and wellbeing of those who provide that care every day.