Labour to push for action on Hanly report

PRESSURE will be stepped up on the Government this week to implement potentially costly recommendations in the Hanly report.

The Dáil is to debate a Labour Party motion on the document which recommended significant increases in hospital staffing levels and hospital beds.

Labour’s health spokesperson Liz McManus said her party will make a clear call on the Government to deliver the resources required, including a doubling of hospital consultants to 3,600.

Labour was also concerned, she said, about recommendations in the report proposing a downgrading of some hospitals. “We will seek a commitment from the Government that citizens in every part of the country should have access, within reasonable time, to top-class accident and emergency services,” Deputy McManus said.

The motion will be debated on Tuesday and Wednesday.

“I am concerned that, while the government welcomed the Hanly report, there has been no commitment from either the Minister for Health or the Minister for Finance to the provision of the additional resources required,” Deputy McManus said.

Reports suggest the Department of Health may receive an increase in the estimates for 2004 of €500m.