Mr. Stephen Mulvany:

With regard to making the process easier for consultants, the unfortunate reality is we have made it easier. Consultants can sign their forms online and we have implemented a system, and although it is not yet integrated with every billing system, it has been integrated with the vast majority of the necessary systems in hospitals. That has led to improvements in the administrative side, which the Deputy mentioned. It also means that, largely, we do not have paper around the overall claims process. Consultants may sign online and there are billing companies that consultants can and do use to do practically everything but the signature. Unfortunately, the issue is not about making it much easier for the consultants - it may the case with some examples - it is largely about attitude and culture in getting the form signed. We have done all that.

We completely agree with the Deputy on the need for an integrated financial and procurement system. We are making progress on that. The Deputy may take it that there is nobody more frustrated than the chief financial officer on this team by not having an integrated financial and procurement system-----