Abstract: distribution of consultant and other medical services throughout the country.Would it not be better to distribute the extra consultants and resources to those districts that have a disproportionately low level of consultant provision and yet can be seen to use their consultants efficiently?Kenneth Clarke stated on television that the "size of the GP list is probably the best indication of workload,."and the same could be said for consultants: catchment population per whole time equivalent consultant surgeon is probably the best indication of surgical workload.