Sláintecare is proposing standalone hospitals for Cork, Dublin and Galway.
The facilities would carry out high volume, low complexity procedures on a day and outpatient basis.
It's hoped the development in Cork will take pressure off acute hospitals and reduce waiting lists, but concerns have been expressed that this is a one size fits all approach to health care that doesn't take into account the issues affecting patients in the Cork area.
Blackpool GP Dr John Sheehan told RedFM news this is a once in a lifetime opportunity:
"We see how long these projects take, they take 20 to 30 years so if we don't get this correct, it could be another 20 years before it's revisited and the difficulty is that a lot of the development of plans for the Mercy Hospital and the South Infirmary hospital is now having to be taken up - we put on the long finger because they're not sure what exactly is going to happen, and we absolutely need clarity on this, as soon as possible."
