Dr. Sara Burke:

I might make a brief comment and then pass the ball. I totally agree with the Deputy. A key part of the original Sláintecare report was integrated workforce planning. Aspects of workforce planning are happening in the system but a bit like the management side of things, this is happening in silos. It is only for doctors, specialists or nurses. To deliver Sláintecare, we need this integrated planning, especially at the lower level of complexity. This aspect is, therefore, really needed. One of the reasons we are in the situation we are in is that there is not this dedicated drive on reform, pushing these underlying important building blocks to deliver on reform. This is because the system is so focused on firefighting now. Professor Thomas is doing a lot of work on workforce planning and he may wish to comment on this point