Mr. Connor Green:

I will respond to the question on Cappagh hospital and the waiting lists in six months. On the waiting lists, in my opinion, and as discussed today, there will be no difference in six months' time. I am speaking only for Temple Street hospital and Cappagh hospital. We have an issue with respiratory viruses at the moment and, therefore, the ICU system has no further capacity. I have had three spinal surgeries cancelled in recent times. Those patients are now pushed out further. It is possible that the waiting lists will have increased further in six months' time, in my opinion from my practice.

In terms of meaningful change at Temple Street and Cappagh hospitals, if we get the investment for the expansion, ten months from that time it will be built and then we can start to talk about meaningful change. That is as accurate as I can be, genuinely. All I can do is look at the patients in front of me. There are 224 on my list for inpatient surgery in Temple Street hospital and 282 on my list for inpatient surgery in Cappagh hospital. On average, I get one done per list in Temple Street hospital. That only happens if the list has not been cancelled. On the basis of my list of 224 patients and an average of 40 lists per annum, depending on bank holidays and so on, I cannot in all honestly say that there will be meaningful change in that regard.

On Cappagh hospital and the number of surgeons that are required to be appointed, Cappagh is already the national hospital. We accept referrals from all over the country. We can continue to accept those referrals. We are in discussions with regard to surgeons from Crumlin hospital coming to Cappagh hospital providing we get the adequate resources to support them. If we had two paediatric orthopaedic operating theatres running per day, we would fill them with our existing surgical staff. The surgeons at Crumlin hospital have access to the national orthopaedic hospital. We also have access. It is already the national orthopaedic hospital. In my opinion, that is where investment should be go because it will always be there.