Harney hospital plans out to tender

TÁNAISTE Mary Harney’s controversial plan for new private hospitals, on existing hospital lands, took a step closer at the weekend with the Health Service Executive (HSE) issuing tender notices for the construction of 11 such facilities.

The Tánaiste’s plan to free up 1,000 public beds by moving private patients to new neighbouring private hospitals was widely opposed by opposition parties, unions, health experts and even HSE chief executive Brendan Drumm.

Last month’s Irish Medical Organisation conference heard repeated claims that the initiative would never get off the ground.