My team in London developed information and communication strategies for the NHS in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The IT strategy for England drew on these sources and so I was eventually asked to edit this. I later led the National Strategy for NHS Direct and chaired a charity providing information to the public in South East England. The picture shows Russian Regional Health Leaders that I taught and learnt from on a course in Moscow recognise that information and good communications are crucial to the performance of their health system.