Dr. Ray Walley:

The statistics we have are based on a study and are identical to the statistics in Northern Ireland and identical to QResearch's in the UK. However, they are researched based on looking at computer databases that exist in general practice surgeries. The majority of general practitioners in this country are computerised and their statistics are identical to those of QResearch in the UK. They show that if one ends up having free provision of care at the point of delivery, people will understandably want to access the general practitioner. As a result of that, one can have a capacity problem depending on what group of people will be coming. They may be young, fit and healthy but scarce resources mean that one will not have the necessary resources to see the people who may require more health care provision.