Dr. Colm Henry:

For the large part, these earners need to continue on scheduled care cover 24-7, particularly in a number of hospitals where it has proven difficult to recruit additional consultants to create a more sustainable rota. In surgery, for example, there is a need for 24-7 cover. If we cannot recruit a general surgeon to a particular hospital, or an emergency department consultant or, indeed, a radiologist, that does not take away the need to provide continuous 24-7 cover.