Third Sláintecare resignation as Dr Anthony O’Connor steps down

This will be a major blow to the programme.

There has been a third Sláintecare resignation on Thursday evening as Dr Anthony O'Connor stepped down from the Implementation Advisory Council. According to multiple publications, the Doctor resigned over concerns about future reforms to the Irish health service. It is understood the Council is set to attempt to organise an urgent meeting with the Taoiseach. This will be a major blow to the programme as O'Connor is the third resignation, with both Executive Director Laura Magahy and Professor Tom Keane, chairman of the Sláintecare Implementation Advisory Committee, stepping down earlier this month. It comes as Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly was met with a hostile reception in the RTÉ Prime Time studio just last week as host Miriam O'Callaghan struggled to retain patience with her guest. Following recent reports that the multi-billion Sláintecare plan is effectively on the brink, Donnelly moved to assure the public that the program is in quite rude health, actually. Asked if the "political will" was present for Sláintecare, Donnelly began: "Not only is the political will there, but we've never been moving quicker on Sláintecare." "I can't take that seriously, Minister. You've just lost the two people running it. You cannot honestly say that you've never been moving as quick on it," O'Callaghan responded. You can watch the full exchange below: https://twitter.com/RTE_PrimeTime/status/1438637008566505474?s=08