Mr. Ciarán Devane:

That is obviously a large question. I agree that access is a problem, for all the reasons the Deputy noted. It is the metrics, and what taxi drivers tell people. It is well understood, and therefore, it is a priority.

In the short term, we as a board would focus on two things. One is the need for programmes which directly address access issues at particular points. The second issue is that models of care need to shift to a model which allows rapid access and rapid discharge, so that the throughput of a system can be changed. Some of that is due to staffing levels, and some is about models of care.

We have been talking about setting up board committees, and we have agreed that and allocated board members to four committees. One is audit and risk, as one would expect. We will also have a people and culture committee, which will look at strategic HR, and will do more than a traditional remuneration committee. The quality and safety committee will examine everything from the never event space, as well as whether we are delivering the outcomes we should at the right levels. The performance and delivery committee will look directly at metrics, including waiting times and access as well as whether we are delivering the number of procedures we said we would for the cost we said. We will have those committees. Two of them are specifically focused on a patient-oriented point of view, while the people and culture will focus on how to make this the best place to work, as well as somewhere that delivers the best health outcomes.