Hospital consultants are warning the country's public hospitals could be facing an extremely damaging crisis in the New Year which could last for months.
The Irish Hospital Consultant's Association (IHCA) says the recently annouced HSE winter plan is 'too late and too limited'.
The €30m plan includes a four-week period of focused action at nine facilities that have experienced the heaviest overcrowding in the past.
The plan also seeks to increase overall bed capacity early next year – with 78 new beds due to open.
Health Minister Simon Harris Harris said the plan represents a “new and innovative approach” that builds on the experience of previous winters.
However, IHCA Secretary General Martin Varley argues that the planned funding of several dozen new hospital beds is nowhere near what is needed.
