Mr. Damien McCallion:

The Mater hospital, to give an example, uses what is called lean methodology, which applies the concept of time and motion. The lean model is really just about looking at the process and seeing how can it be made to work better from a patient's perspective. The other important point is that when the system is under pressure, there is prioritisation. The triage process allows for that. It can sometimes mean that people have longer waits but, clinically, that is a key part of what we are doing. Our emergency medicine programme has clear priorities and triage protocols around how the emergency department should work. The Deputy's point is well made in regard to time and motion and the lean model. It is about looking at the flow and the process. Our hospitals are trying to use those sorts of techniques and see how they work. Obviously, it is complex.