New Zealand's health system is a political football, held together only by the high quality of our nurses and doctors, according to a new book from Gareth Morgan. While the local health system scrubs up surprisingly well globally, Dr Morgan finds a substantial mismatch between the public's expectations and what the health system actually delivers. From interviews with those working in the sector through to a detailed examination of the latest major review of the system known as the Horn Report, Morgan and Simmons go behind the scenes of the New Zealand public health system and bring clarity to the issues that need to be addressed if crisis is to be avoided. The book explores the consequences of ongoing avoidance of the tough calls on rationing and prioritisation. It considers how many New Zealanders are already suffering or missing out from health care because of ad-hoc interventions in response to pressure groups. Co-authored with former Treasury analyst Geoff Simmons, and written in Morgan's frank style, this book takes no prisoners as it explores which patients and treatments need to be given priority.