The Health Minister says no one believes the HSE can continue as it is.
It comes as Cabinet has approved a major shake-up of the structure of the health service that will see it split into six regional health boards.
The idea is to give more power and autonomy to individuals in the health service at a local level.
Health Minister Simon Harris says it's part of a wider change being brought under Sláintecare.
"I think it's fair to say - we've got to be honest with each other - nobody believes that the HSE can continue in the way that it is.
"Patients don't believe it, staff don't believe it, I don't believe it.
"We need less bureaucracy, we need more accountability - and crucially, we need fewer layers between the patient and the health service".
Launching the new structures of the HSE Health Minister Simon Harris says no one believes the healthcare system can continue as it is and be successful pic.twitter.com/D0zPDN7NCz
— Seán Defoe (@SeanDefoe) July 17, 2019
Area A will include Dublin North, Meath, Louth, Cavan and Monaghan.
Area B will be made up of the most counties: a part of Dublin South, Kildare, Laois, Offaly, Westmeath and Longford.
Area C will provide services for part of Dublin South, as well as Wicklow, Wexford, Carlow, Kilkenny, Tipperary South and Waterford.
Cork and Kerry are classified as Area D, while Area E is made up of Limerick, Tipperary North and Clare.
And Area F will provide services to Galway, Mayo, Sligo, Roscommon, Leitrim and Donegal.
Here’s the six new regional health care zones the HSE is going to be divided into. Each with their own budget based on population and more autonomy than at present pic.twitter.com/KJJJ2w2j5L
— Seán Defoe (@SeanDefoe) July 17, 2019
