Officials defend pace of health reform despite rising waiting lists amid tense questioning

HSE CEO Paul Reid said he accepts that "patients are waiting too long to be seen" 

Robert Watt, in particular, combatively defended the pace of the Sláintecare reform programme. Photo: Sam Boal / RollingNews.ie

Waiting lists and the failure to implement regional health authorities under Sláintecare dominated a tense session of the Oireachtas health committee on Wednesday.

The committee heard from Paul Reid, CEO of the HSE and Robert Watt, secretary-general of the Department of Health, on oversight for the Sláintecare reform programme with Mr Watt in particular combatively defending the pace of reform.