NHS-style trusts in frame after hospital mergers

The HSE has been ordered to merge hospitals into new administrative groups with a single budget and a staff ceiling as part of plans to cut costs, high-level administration, and patient waiting times.

Health Minister James Reilly confirmed the move in correspondence sent to HSE chairman and recently retired Department of Health secretary general Michael Scanlan.

Under the plan, public facilities will be told to combine resources to help improve frontline services and the wider system.