The author of the controversial report recommending wide-ranging reform of the hospital network will not have his contract renewed by the Department of Health, it has been reported.
The Irish Medical Timeswebsite today reports that the Minster of Health, Ms Harney, will meet Mr David Hanly next week to confirm to him that his services are no longer required. The move is likely to be announced by the Taoiseach this week.
A spokesman for the Tanaiste refused to comment on the report.
However, Mr Hanly's controversial recommendation that future resources be concentrated at larger regional "centres of excellence" coupled with the possible down grading of certain local hospital services will be implemented, according to the report.
There have been massive levels of public and political opposition to the proposals amid fears that some communities will end up miles from essential hospital services, particularly Accident & Emergency departments. Hanly recommends that many A&E departments in smaller hospitals be closed.
The members of the National Taskforce on Medical Staffing which compiled the Hanly Report will also be released from their work and the panel disbanded. They were due to compile a second report recommending how hospitals services would be reorganised. The Hanly Report only examined two of the then health board areas.
However, it emerged last month that Mr Hanly's contract had not been renewed, and the Department conceded that phase two of his recommendations would not be implemented in the near future because hospital consultants had refused to co-operate with the review because of separate dispute.
The Department said the group's work and the renewal of Mr Hanly's contract were "on hold" pending the outcome of the dispute over consultants' insurance. The Irish Medical Timessays implementation of the report will handled by the recently created Health Services Executive (HSE).