Health Secretary Humza Yousaf is right to apologise for the growing crisis in the NHS. He is not the first post holder to experience difficulties, but the scale of the challenge he faces is without precedent.
A shocking three-quarters of a million people are waiting for treatment, outpatient appointments or diagnostic tests. Accident and emergency departments are simply not coping and social care is in crisis.
Staff also feel demoralised, underpaid and unwilling to accept a pay cut. Energy bills have been the big story over the past few months but the heartbreaking state of the NHS is taking centre stage.
