Dr. Mike O'Connor:

My comment is on weekend discharge, which is a national issue. A total of 16% of all discharges from our hospitals occur on Saturdays and Sundays. This is for complex reasons.

Additionally, there is a focus, which Professor Lenehan alluded to, around weekend discharge. Flow co-ordinators have been put in that will identify the patients for discharge. This system is a work in progress. Access to diagnostics is a challenge. Our colleagues in the community have stepped up their response at the weekend as well. All those things have been improved. I would not like this aspect to be characterised as a UHL–specific issue or on weekend discharges. A reluctance to discharge at the weekend is a national phenomenon, and a significant one.