The chief executive of the Mid- Western Health Board has warned that resources and funding will be vital if the board is to implement recommendations of the Hanly report.
Mr Stiofan de Burca said it was important to realise that the Hanly taskforce had devised a plan for "an ideal world" and one devoid of politics, industrial relations and financial considerations. He said the board would complete every task presented to it, but warned that the forthcoming Estimates would be crucial for the successful delivery of the pilot programme.
The Mid-Western Health Board was chosen along with the East Coast Area Health Board to pilot the recommendations. The report recommended there be one major hospital with a full range of services in each region, Limerick Regional Hospital in the mid-west and St Vincent's, Dublin, in the east coast area.
Other hospitals are to be redesignated local hospitals with minor injury units rather than full accident and emergency departments. As a result, Ennis and Nenagh General Hospitals in the mid-west and St Columcille's Hospital in Loughlinstown, Dublin, will lose full A&E services.
Yesterday staff at Nenagh Hospital were briefed on the changes at a special meeting organised by health board management. Staff in Ennis hospital will receive a similar briefing next week.
There was also a special meeting of the Mid-Western Health Board on Thursday where members gave a cautious welcome to Hanly's proposals.
Mr de Burca said members saw a great deal of merit in the report, but were "anxious about the practicality of the final changes as they may affect public confidence in the system". This meant that members of the public who accessed services at Ennis and Nenagh Hospitals would have to be safeguarded while improved and increased services were established at Limerick hospital.
The Eastern Regional Health Authority has also met to consider the plan. The board of the authority, which incorporates members of the East Coast Area Health Board, also noted the financial implications of the plan and called on the Minister for Health, Mr Martin, to make the necessary funding available to the ECAHB to enable it to implement the proposed changes.
Meanwhile opposition to the plan to reduce A&E services is growing. In Nenagh a local senator, Ms Kathleen O'Meara, has organised a public meeting for next Tuesday night.