Hanly report recommendations

THE Hanly report recommendations amount to sweeping changes in the structure of hospital services and their implementation has major implications for employees and patients.

Consultants: Their number is to increase from 1,700 at present to 3,100 in 2009 and 3,600 in 2013. In return, they will be asked to provide 24-hour, seven-day cover by working shifts instead of sticking to their nine to five, Monday to Friday arrangement.

They will no longer be employed by a given hospital but by a regional health service which will require them to work as part of a team of consultants in any given speciality. They will also have to provide more structured training to the non-consultant hospital doctors working under them.