The Health Service Executive doubts that the State’s private hospitals will sign a new deal to let the HSE take over several thousand private hospital beds if there is another Covid-19 surge. In October, the HSE proposed that it should take up to 40 per cent of the beds in private hospitals for up to two years to deal with further surges in Covid-19 cases. The HSE report for the Government said there had been interest in principle from all bar one private hospital on its “safety net” proposals. The HSE had sought an “all-inclusive” package of care to be provided, including the services of doctors in the private hospitals. “Discussions with the private hospital groups are continuing and it would be inappropriate to comment on same at this point,” it said.

Source: The Irish Times December 02, 2020 15:22 UTC