The sharp increase in shared NHS trust chairs and CEOs has been notable in recent months, with more key appointments made in London and the North West just this week.

We discuss why the appointment of joint chairs matters, how boards cope when overseeing more organisations and what this means for the integration agenda.

Also, this week NHS England has sent a striking letter to trusts in the Midlands warning them they may be entering the most difficult period of the pandemic for more than a year.

We ask why this region has specifically been warned, when many parts of the country are under pressure, and what the next few weeks holds for the NHS.

Featuring Lawrence Dunhill, Annabelle Collins and Dave West.