Delaying of Hanly report a deliberate ploy, says FG

THE publication of the third in a series of key reports on health service reform has been deliberately delayed as the Government will be unable to meet its recommendations, the Fine Gael party has claimed.

The Hanly report on hospital manpower, finalised in June, was to be published this month. Yesterday, a spokeswoman for the Department of Health said no date had yet been set for its publication.

Fine Gael claims the Government is stalling its publication because of difficulties implementing its recommendations in time to meet the introduction of an EU directive reducing junior doctors’ working hours.