Ms Anne Marie Hoey:

The new consultant contract was implemented in March this year. For new consultants being recruited, it is the only contract that is available as we go forward. Existing consultants can transition to the new contract. They will make an individual decision based on their current contract. Consultants on pre-2023 contracts would have had the capacity to do private practice in a public hospital as well as public practice in a public hospital. Individuals will make an informed decision based on their existing contract and the terms of that contract versus the terms of the new contract. In the months since the new contract was implemented, we have seen more than 920 existing consultants transition to the new contract, with a good number, in addition, currently going through the process of transition, discussing their work plan with their respective services and so on. We are seeing a significant week-on-week increase in the numbers moving to the new contract. I anticipate we will continue to see such increases for a while yet. To answer the Chair's question, it is about each individual making an informed decision based on the new contract versus his or her pre-2023 contract.