More than 50 submissions to HSE for private hospital plans

More than 50 firms have applied to the Health Service Executive to develop private hospitals on public hospital grounds.

Irish companies, including the Beacon Medical Group, the Bons Secours Healthcare Group and the Mater Private have sent submissions to the HSE.

The 50 healthcare providers include major players in Ireland and the UK and the move comes following the announcement by the Health Service Executive that 11 hospitals have been earmarked for co-location projects.

Hospitals in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Waterford and Galway have all been highlighted as possibilities for co-location facilities, as have sites in the north-west and the north-east.

A spokesperson for the HSE said it is very pleased with the number and quality of submissions.

The Minister for Health, Mary Harney, proposed the co-location idea, which grants generous tax breaks to private hospital developers, last July in a bid to create more hospital beds.

The plan has received a mixed reaction, with the Irish Medical Organisation highly critical of the proposals.