Seòmar agus comataidhean

I am sorry. We do not have time.

I call Paul Sweeney.

Our next theme’s questions are from Tess White.

An issue that was raised by just about every health board that the committee met was the cost and use of locum staff. Some of the fees that our island boards, in particular, were looking at to engage locum consultants were quite eye-watering—indeed, the figure of up to £3 million a year was quoted in one case. What action is the Scottish Government taking to reduce reliance on locum and agency staff and to shift things more in the direction of making the NHS a more attractive place in which to be a permanent member of staff?

Our next theme is staffing. We have a lot of interest in questions under this theme, so I ask members to keep their questions concise, and I ask the cabinet secretly and his colleagues to do likewise in their answers.

That would be helpful for the committee.

I believe that Carol Mochan has a supplementary question.

Sandesh Gulhane has some questions on our next theme, which is redesign.

Thank you, cabinet secretary, for indulging the committee and giving us a little bit of extra time. It is very much appreciated, because it allowed us to get through all members’ questions. I also thank the other members of the panel for their attendance today and their answers.

I have a short question. You mentioned the redesign of urgent care and that the aim of that was to reduce self-presentation at accident and emergency units by between 15 and 20 per cent by 2026. Is that on track?

Thank you. Sandesh Gulhane has a supplementary question on this theme.