Dr. Colm Henry:

That was my next point. The hospital groups represent a very good vehicle for group-wide recruitment. Instead of having a department of cardiology for Kerry, there should be department of cardiology for the south west, which would see an integrated approach to cardiology and standardised care. Most importantly, it is about patients, after all, and standardising the care for patients in Kerry, Waterford, Clonmel and Cork. It is not based around the needs of doctors based in one specialised hospital but based on the needs right across the region. I completely agree that is the way we need to go and, to do that, we have to recruit across group lines. That represents one way we can mitigate the effect of trainees not wanting to work and not applying for jobs in model 3 hospitals.