The Private Hospitals Association has stated that public and private hospitals should work together on solutions to reduce waiting times and lists for patients.
Private hospitals are proposing for vacant beds in their facilities to be made available to public hospitals, depending on need and availability.
The association, which represents 19 private hospitals around the country, has published a set of six proposals which it believes would help to take pressure off the public health service.
Liam Doran of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation said that any moves to tackle overcrowding are welcomed, but he believes that private hospitals are limited in how much help they can provide.
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