Health reform crisis - Time for a resolution is running out

A day after Finance Minister Brian Cowen announced €11 billion in funding for health - its highest ever - more doubt was cast upon the quality of the service that will come into operation next January.

Yesterday, the Government published legislation for the implementation of the new Health Service Executive (HSE), on the day it descended into yet more turmoil.

IMPACT trade union members in the health sector voted overwhelmingly to withhold co-operation with its implementation, just days after the chief executive officer designate, Professor Aidan Halligan, changed his mind about accepting the post.