Senator urges Reilly to 'fire torpedo' at bureaucratic health approach

The Minister for Health James Reilly is being urged to ''fire a torpedo'' at the bureaucratic approach to the health service.

Senator John Crowne, who is also an oncologist, made the comments after the HSE announced a number of cost cutting measures in the north east in a bid to reign in its €500m overspend for this year.

Fifty beds will close in the Louth-Meath hospital group, all agency staff will go by December and overtime will be terminated.

Senator Crowne says the grouping of hospitals is a step in the right direction but more needs to be done.