Professor Orla Hardiman:

I can certainly give the Deputy scientific evidence from our work in motor neurone disease - this has been recapitulated in other areas as well - that the life expectancy of those who attend a specialist multidisciplinary clinic service is enhanced by one third for motor neurone disease. We have done this twice. We looked at people who attend a national clinic compared with those who do not in the South, and we also did a comparative analysis between people attending a clinic with devolved care in Northern Ireland. Those demonstrated the same thing. Many of my colleagues across Europe have recapitulated that. Not only do we improve outcome in terms of people’s life expectancy, we also improve quality of life and it is cheaper in the longer term. There is a very strong health economic evidence base in support of what I am saying and I have no doubt that would also be the case in all of the other conditions we have discussed. Speciality nurses are good value for money because they reduce unnecessary interventions, investigations and engagement. There is a one-stop shop and a go-to person. That go-to person is the nurse. Ms Rogers gave figures in respect of engagement with a nurse and the number of consultations it reduces. I do not know if she wants to reiterate that point.