Dr. Peadar Gilligan:

What we need to do is utilise the system we have to its optimal effect. That does not mean occupying every bed in the system because clearly we cannot do that. We need to have a facility for surge, so we cannot have an occupancy level above 80% in any of our acute hospitals, nor, indeed, in our elective hospitals. The IMO's position is that we need to move to certain hospitals only providing scheduled care, in order that that scheduled care is not interrupted by the delivery of unplanned or emergency care. That would be a very important initiative and part of that capacity requirement.