Ms Susan Clyne:

There is absolutely a need for additional capacity and there has been for more than ten years. We cannot possibly accept that we are delivering a health service with this reduced capacity. All it will mean is that things get worse, problems will be worse, and people will get sicker. Temporary builds must be the first option. Purchasing or renting space will have to be the second option, while we develop longer term deals or acquisitions. Other than the provision of funding, there is no reason temporary builds cannot proceed. I will ask my colleague, Dr. Gilligan, to speak to the question about the bed situation.