Not only have they been managing the usual winter fire-fighting operations as record flu and norovirus levels took overstretched hospitals once more to the brink,  but they have come under distinctly intense scrutiny from two MPs' committees. 

A damning report by the Public Accounts Committee pulled no punches in its assessment of the readiness of health officials to deliver the Government's 10-Year Plan. 

In an extraordinary broadside Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, chair of the committee, accused the officials at NHS England and DHSC of being ‘out of ideas and remarkably complacent'. 

In a robust response, NHS England said the committee's report contained ‘basic factual inaccuracies and a flawed understanding of how the NHS and the Government's financial processes work'.

NHS leaders came under further fire from the Health and Social Care Committee which said it was ‘disappointed and frustrated' by their evidence. 

In its defence, the NHS said its disclosures were limited by the fact the hearing took place on day before the release of its major planning guidance document, which begs the question of why the timings of the hearing and the policy announcement could not have been better co-ordinated. 

With plenty more scrutiny to come as we lead up to the release of the pivotal 10-Year Health Plan, the heat on NHS leaders looks set to only rise further.