Harney insists co-location of hospitals is ‘proceeding as planned’

HEALTH Minister Mary Harney has insisted the Government’s plan to co-locate eight private hospitals on the grounds of public hospitals is proceeding as planned.

In a detailed response to reports carried on Newstalk on Thursday, Ms Harney said it was not true that the Health Services Executive (HSE) was proceeding with signing the contracts for four private hospitals and not the eight envisaged under the plan.

“Whoever the selective leaker is, they are not informed,” she told a press conference, ahead of her address to the Irish Medical Organisation in Killarney, Co Kerry.