Senator brands Department of Health and HSE 'incompetent'

An independent Senator has said the Department of Health and HSE are 'incompetent'

John Crowne - who is also a leading cancer specialist - is criticising a decision which means non-terminal cancer patients will no longer be guaranteed a medical card.

The move has been confirmed by Health Minister James Reilly.

Senator Crowne said the Irish health service is being run by bureaucrats and it is failing.

"I believe the Department of Health is very incompetent, I'm not personalising it this is a problem of the administration," he said.

"I don't think we have the skill set in public governance of the HSE or the Department of Health for the job they need to do

"I think we need a fundamental shake up and reform of the way we do health care in this country

"By and large we have a self selection process which picks people who are good at being bureaucrats ending up as the leaders in our health system and it is all wrong."