Mr. Paul Reid:

I will start and then ask my colleagues to come in. On the scale of the challenge the Deputy just set out, it is not acceptable or good enough for anyone to have been waiting for these lengths of time. It is, however, a function of the many legacy issues that we need to resolve. Strategically, the right direction to take is that set out in the various elements of the Sláintecare plan. These include reducing the pressure on our acute hospital system, delivering more services, and more outpatient services, in the community, having more intervention teams helping in the community and enabling more access to GPs and primary care for diagnostics to reduce the pressure on hospitals. These are the right measures to take strategically.

The legacy problem we have will not be solved in the first year of the service plan. We have been in discussions with many other health administrations, including in the UK, that have also been severely impacted by the effects of the pandemic. This has impacted us, but we now have a good strategic plan that is funded. The implementation of the plan, though, has faced challenges in the first four to five months of this year. There is also a strike today. The actions set out in this service plan, however, are the right ones to pursue strategically. It will take time to bring this plan to fruition and there will be a multi-annual approach in respect of resolving some of the chronic issues we have with waiting lists. This process is about reform and changing the pathways in which people see their care being delivered.