IMO supports co-location, but with conditions

THE Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) has called on the Government to guarantee to meet any funding shortfall created as a consequence of removing private patients from public hospitals.

Under the Government’s proposed co-location plan, private patients occupying beds in public hospitals will be transferred to private co-located facilities, depriving hospitals of a source of significant income, about €700 million over seven years.

Yesterday the IMO said it was prepared to support co-location if the Government built in safeguards to protect the interests of public patients. These include: