The future of the NHS depends on its workforce.

Competing Interests: Competing interests: We have read and understood BMJ policy on competing interests and declare: MD-W is currently undertaking evaluative work for the Care Quality Commission. She is an unpaid director and founder of THIS Labs. CS gave oral evidence to the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee Inquiry into Clinical Academics and the NHS. She is employed by the University of Cambridge, is an honorary consultant at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and is director of studies in clinical medicine at Selwyn College, Cambridge. MM is an employee of The BMJ and has acted in various advisory roles for the health service including for the Welsh government. KP has no interests to declare.