HSE to press ahead with implementation of Hanly report

The Health Service Executive is reportedly planning to press ahead with the implementation of the controversial Hanly Report, despite speculation to the contrary.

The Government was believed to have shelved the report on hospital reform after disbanding the group set up to implement the reforms.

The group was disbanded earlier this year because consultants were refusing to participate in negotiations on how change could be implemented.

However, reports this morning said the director of the HSE's new National Hospitals Office had indicated that talks on how to reorganise the hospital system in line with Hanly would begin next year.

Mr Hanly's report, which was published in 2003, recommended the downgrading of accident and emergency services at smaller hospitals and promoted protests from people in towns where these hospitals are located.