Mr. John Connaghan:

It is important to consider that the introduction of new capacity in line with Sláintecare ambitions needs to consider not just infrastructure, which is required in terms of new physical beds, but also workforce. There is more than just one plan here. There is as much of a constraint in attracting and retaining workforce inside Ireland to be able to crew up for those additional beds and the capacity we need as there is in terms of finding the capital to actually make all of this happen. It is important we understand that it accounts for whole system planning around this.

As regards trolley counts, the INMO calculates things differently. I have the HSE figures for July, August and September to hand. In July, the HSE figures were down 2.7%, in August, down 4.6%, and in September, down 4.6%. I know the October figures are likely to be down around the same percentage but have not yet been released.