A hospital consultant has called for the health minister to go.

Michael O'Keeffe says we need a change of minister and a back to basics approach to health.

He has slammed plans to give free GP care to the under 6s, "You can't justify giving free care to under 6s, when you have children with cerebral palsy, Down's Syndrome, with incredible problems with fantastic parents having to fork out money every day. It is just unjust, it is immoral." 

He has also branded a proposal to use health care assistants instead of agency nurses for some duties as 'outrageous', and he is insisting Universal Health Insurance is 'unaffordable and unworkable'.

Michael O'Keeffe says Universal Health Insurance and free GP care for the under 6s are proposals 'for the future, when we are rich again'.

The consultant ophthalmologist at the Mater and Temple Street hospitals in Dublin, told Newstalk's Breakfast at least 2,000 beds need to be opened: