HSE Chief Executive Prof Brendan Drumm has said that a reduction in in-patient admissions has been taking place for several years in the health system.
Speaking on RTÉ's News at One, Mr Drumm said it was the way forward and that more treatments can be performed on an out-patient or day care basis and in medical assessment units.
He was responding to a leaked draft HSE service plan for 2010, which proposed cutting the number of in-patient admissions this year by 54,000.
Prof Drumm said that the final service plan is before the HSE Board and will be submitted to Government in a few days for approval.
He also discussed the proposed industrial action by health workers represented by the IMPACT trade union.
The action is in response to recent pay cuts to public service workers as a result of December's Budget and will start on Monday 25 January.
Prof Drumm said the action could have a huge impact on health services, but he believed health workers would not allow any action to adversely impact on patient care.
He said he recognised the unions had been put in a very challenging position, but he also hoped changes proposed by the HSE to improve patient care could still happen.
