Mr. Paul Reid:

I share the Deputy's concerns and accept the weaknesses highlighted in the Comptroller and Auditor General's report on this one. In terms of control, there is a monthly process involving chief clinicians and hospital managers having that discussion with consultants on their committed hours, work plans, etc. That is a kind of local monitoring. I fully accept that there are weaknesses in the system. However, having spoken to clinicians in all of the hospitals I have visited in the past five weeks, there is no doubt that the commitment of the vast majority to the public system is very strong. They work well above and beyond their contractual commitments in the public service. I have seen them and I know the pressures they are under and the commitments they have. While I acknowledge that, I accept fully at the same time the weaknesses of control on this. It is something I have a discussion on everywhere I go and we will be aiming to strengthen it.