A second strand of analysis relates to the work of the national task force on medical staffing. This review is concerned with preparing a plan for the medical staffing of acute hospitals based on the recommendations of the report of the Medical Manpower Forum in 2001 and the report of the national joint steering group on the working hours of non-consultant hospital doctors that same year. Part of its work is concerned with examining the practical implications of moving to a consultant-delivered hospital system. This is likely to include reference to the future configuration of hospital services in Ireland.