Ms Anne O'Connor:

In terms of medical recruitment and the medical workforce in general, we have established a medical workforce oversight group that both myself and Dr. Henry co-chair to examine how we currently recruit and retain our doctors. A core part of that is GPs because we are very conscious of the need to future-proof in terms of Sláintecare, community health networks and our process around engaging with the Irish College of General Practitioners and all of that. GPs are key in that in terms of our approach so we can certainly look at the points the Chairman raised in respect of the interviewing and the replacement process.

I might pick up on a couple of other points. The MRI scanner in University Hospital Limerick is opening 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to begin with. However, the contract with the provider has the capacity to extend that. If the demand requires longer hours, we can certainly introduce those.

I agree with the Chairman on the expansion of CIT services. We are looking at CIT services. We will be looking at increasing the CIT capacity and the community frailty intervention team in the community in the mid-west. We want to focus our efforts on making sure that we have CITs, that they are integrated into the broader primary care service delivery and linked with acute hospitals also. That is very much part of our plan, and the mid-west is part of our plan for 2020.