Mr. Tony O'Brien:

Certainly the protocol now arising from the communications review referred to in this committee in November is that there should be three months' notice of the review and then a period of notice of any decision to withdraw. I will certainly take away what the Chairman is saying and have it examined.

On the issue of those, now thankfully rare, instances where a person may remain on a register after having been deceased, this is not a significant issue for us at this stage since a protocol is in place for the recovery of any over payment. Given that we always owe GPs more than they owe us, it is not an issue of significant concern to us. We have access to the death events publication service and once an event is formally registered, the primary care reimbursement service will correct any overpayment that may have been made on an agreed basis. In addition, since the end of 2012 a protocol has been agreed with the IMO that enables general practitioners themselves to renew an otherwise expired medical card if there are circumstances that lead them to believe that should happen. This gives rise to a further opportunity for any engagement regarding the renewal of that medical card. So they have that ability.