Ms Susan Clyne:

The excess mortality rate is not that high at the moment. That is something we will only be able to evaluate as the evidence comes in. I am concerned that we are looking at our health services as if this crisis is because of Covid-19. We already had a crisis that Covid-19 has made worse. That is why we must take significant steps in investment at the moment and not more planning. Myriad plans exist for the health sector but we just want some investment based on clinical evidence and patient need.

I do not think we can answer the question about mortality. We are of the view that mortality will increase at a higher level than it would otherwise have done. Mortality is increasing within our health services because of the capacity issue anyway.