Gareth Lewis: Will cross-border working boost NHS?

As for the politics, I’m told officials at UK government level have been pushing hard behind the scenes to get this announcement.

They are keen to show a practical application of what they say is a better working relationship between the two governments with Labour in charge.

Not surprisingly, the Conservatives are crying foul, having offered to treat Welsh patients in August last year when they were in charge at Westminster.

There was a conversation at ministerial level, but it progressed no further – dismissed as a PR stunt by then health minister and current FM Eluned Morgan.

The Tories say they also had a plan to fund the cross-border arrangements, and suspect that Labour do not.

There are two other strands to the new cross-border approach, one involving how Wales can try and make available the equivalent of 40,000 extra NHS appointments a week as is the plan for England.

The other is a brave visit to dentistry. The idea that there are lessons for England to learn might set a few teeth on edge given the well-documented issues that many Welsh patients have in getting an appointment.

The FM says bringing those waiting lists down is her top priority.