The division of health services into public and private in Ireland is an illusion created by the media and politicians, according to well-known orthopaedic surgery James Sheehan.

He said both sectors of the service should be complementary.

"Our challenge is to use our dwindling resources in the best possible way to provide a safe, effective, equitable service, at minimal cost to the hard-pressed taxpayer.

Mr Sheehan, who was behind the development of the Blackrock, Galway and Hermitage Clinics, said the independent (private) hospital sector contributed hugely to healthcare in Ireland, carrying out 50% of all open heart operations and 65% of spinal surgery.

He said while healthcare resources were limited, the challenge was not just to do more with less, but to do it differently and innovatively.