Reilly’s nursing plan may threaten services

Hospitals across Ireland may be forced to cut back on already recession-hit services if Health Minister James Reilly stays loyal to his botched nurse graduate plan in its current form.

For the second time in a fortnight, the HSE was yesterday forced to scrap its own deadline for the controversial scheme — which is being boycotted by nurses’ unions — due to lack of interest from graduates.

Under the plan, 1,000 new nurses were to be appointed on 80% of normal starting salaries, saving the health service €10m.