Kate O'Connell (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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I understand that. The witness need not have explained that. It seems a bit strange, in a population the size of the city of Manchester, that one would have CAAC and two separated streams of recruitment for the same job. We are the size of the United States of America.The witness spoke about what he is going to set, which is aspirational. We have all had enough of aspirational plans. This is about real patients who have an expectation of seeing a consultant and every person waits for the consultant's opinion when they have something seriously wrong with them. When the consultant who is presented is not up to scratch, it really diminishes confidence in a system.

The witness mentioned multi-factorial. It is absolutely shocking and no surprise if a person is reaching 65 years of age that they are going to retire. It is only a surprise if they are 45. Does this same ad hoc- and I realise that the witness is only taking up this post - approach apply when it comes to maternity leave, for instance? It is generally never a surprise that a person reaches eight months in a pregnancy and they will be off work - I understand in the health service it is for the six months plus the three months plus some holidays, so usually in the region of a year. Is the same approach taken for maternity as is taken for retirement or whatever other instances?