As her campaign team hit the streets of Ballydehob, West Cork, Holly Cairns could lay reasonable claim to having the country’s youngest canvasser on the job.

“If you want to do your private practice — no problem at all. But if you are a new consultant you may only do it in a private health facility,” said the minister.

The man behind the Sláintecare report into removing private care from public hospitals has said that doing so is now “perfectly feasible, after that it’s a question for society as to whether or not we want to do it”.

Once upon a time, we put our unquestioning trust in our doctors, in our healthcare service. But a revolution has been happening, quietly, unstoppable.

The Health Minister says removing private practice from public hospitals is the right thing to do.

The Irish Medical Organisation says there is no evidence that capacity or waiting lists will improve by banning private patients from public hospitals.

The Government has promised that a break up of the health services into six regions will reduce the number of managers and improve care for patients.

The Government has described its new plan for the health service as a significant milestone in the delivery of the biggest reform of the HSE since its establishment in 2005.

The Minister for Health Simon Harris has confirmed the biggest restructuring of the HSE since it was founded 15 years ago.

It would establish six regional healthcare centres instead of the current centralised system.

Access to health services based on need should be a constitutional right, the Irish Patients' Association has urged.

The HSE has welcomed the agreement on GP contractual reforms involving the Department of Health, the HSE and the Irish Medical Organisation.

The current chief executive of Fingal County Council takes over following the departure of Tony O'Brien last year.

We are the only country in Western Europe which doesn’t provide free, universal access to primary care, writes Victoria White

A project board has been established to drive the development of a new elective hospital that could ultimately replace the Mercy University Hospital and the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital in Cork.

From April 1, there will be a €10 reduction in the monthly drugs payment scheme threshold from €134 to €124.

Successful projects will offer new approaches to sickness prevention, hospital avoidance, and the delivery of care in the community.

The Government’s Sláintecare action plan has been blasted as “deeply underwhelming” by the woman who chaired the committee that produced the Sláintecare report.

Raising expectation ahead of delivery, and way ahead of what should be delivered at all, is taking a toll, writes Gerard Howlin.

The minister for health, Simon Harris, published a strategy document — a 10-year plan to reform the health service — last week. 

The majority of those waiting are children.

Now is the time for fundamental reform. Now is the time for a massive shake-up of our health system, writes Fergus Finlay.

There is a politician who could fix the health service. She does not currently hold public office, but maybe she will someday, writes Michael Clifford.

Son reveals his mother’s ordeal at Portiuncula Hospital to highlight healthcare crisis, need for action

Independent Government ministers have demanded the delivery of 500 additional hospital beds by the end of this year.

Increasing the pay of hospital consultants and nurses, outside of the new public service deal, is a likely means of resolving the crisis in the health sector.

New hospitals and up to 9,000 beds are needed to reduce overcrowding and waiting lists, according to the Government's bed capacity review.

Members of the Joint Oireachtas Health Committee have expressed concern that the Department of Health is devising a draft plan to implement Sláintecare without any input from the yet-to-be-appointed head of the Sláintecare implementation office.

A performance and oversight board to monitor the HSE should be in place next year once the necessary legislation is in place, according to the health minister.

The health service needs critical and and comprehensive reform. This Government either commits to reform now or continues to inflict misery on patients and their families.