The HSE insist no decision has been made on whether new management structures being proposed to cover the six hospital sites including Ennis will result in the departure of Frank Keane as manager at Clare’s County Hospital.

Fears have been raised that if Mr Keane is offered one of the new four directorate positions , that he will depart Ennis General and be based in Limerick and no replacement would be appointed.

The creation of four directorate to cover all hospitals in the region is part of the HSE’s strategy to develop a single acute hospital system with integrated management and clinical governance operating across Ennis, Dooradoyle, Croom, Regional Maternity, St John’s, and Nenagh.

A spokesperson for the HSE added that the new roles would also be taken from existing resources