Those hospitals identified by the task force as local hospitals are ideally placed for that role. The core of their services will include elective medical and surgical procedures, day surgery, minor injury and illness units, high quality diagnostic services, outpatient clinics, pre and post-natal maternity services, intermediate care and rehabilitation and convalescence beds. These services will be provided by a group of health professionals including consultants, NCHDs, general practitioners, specialist and staff nurses, radiographers, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and other health professionals. In summary, I expect them to provide an increasing volume of elective procedures and the kind of multi-specialist day and outpatient care that is currently performed in the larger hospitals. Far from downgrading, these hospitals should be developed further to give people local access to a wider range of hospital services than they enjoy at present. Managing the changes required will be challenging and I will not understate the magnitude of the task ahead.