To make recommendations on how to achieve a 48 hour working week and a consultant provided service, the task force has had to look considerably beyond the services provided by consultants and the NCHDs alone. It has been considering the delivery of services throughout the hospital system with full regard to the interactions with primary care and long-term care services. It has, therefore, met not only consultants and NCHDs but also other health professionals, including nurses, management, other clinical disciplines, general practitioners and other primary care providers. Over the last year it has had over 300 consultative meetings; received 60 written responses from pilot regions; been engaged in detailed analysis of material from detailed questionnaires issued to each department of each hospital in the pilot regions, and analysed detailed material from management questionnaires.