Mr. Eamonn Donnelly:

I concur with everything Mr. Doran has presented. I emphasise the issue of self-referral among allied health professionals. Until we get this, we will always have to have the public jumping through hoops and an unwieldy health service. Mr. Doran is right. We cannot picture the model now and try to make the journey from here. The committee must also decide what model of health care will be provided, because the notion of the current configuration of seven hospital groups and nine community health care organisations is not sustainable. We need to be talking about an integrated health care model. Primary care, along with hospital care, is the key cornerstone of an integrated health care model. Somebody needs to grasp that nettle sooner rather than later.