25/03/2009

Average Performance 'Tops' National Hospital League

Statistics released this week by the Health Service Executive (HSE) in relation to individual hospital performance are being described as a "damning indictment" of a Galway facility - but it is not alone in facing criticism.

Pressure group 'Save Our Cancer Services Sligo' spokesperson Killian McLoughlin who was responding to information published by the HSE which shows that University College Hospital Galway received the lowest rating when it comes to access to services.

He was quoting from the Health Service Executive figures based on information on how hospitals perform under the three categories of access, integration and resources.

Hospitals were then graded by green, amber and red, with even the best ones only being graded as amber.

Letterkenny General Hospital received an amber marking across the board while Sligo General received amber in relation to access, green for integration while the hospital fares worst in relation to its resources.

Breast cancer-care services are due to be transferred from Sligo to Galway by early summer.

Mr McLoughlin said he believes that patients are being sent from one of the best hospitals in the country to one of the worst.

However, Mayo General Hospital was actually the worst-performing hospital according to the HSE's league table.

The official 'HealthStat' programme examined how teaching, regional and general hospitals performed against national and international targets in delivering services to patients.

Four of the 29 hospitals surveyed were ranked as "unsatisfactory and requiring urgent attention".

Mayo General Hospital finished bottom of the table with the HSE saying it requires urgent attention in the three categories surveyed - patient access, integration and resources.

Cork University Hospital, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Drogheda and University College Hospital Galway also received an overall rating of red meaning they performed unsatisfactorily.

The other 25 hospitals were given an amber rating or "average performance with room for improvement", while none of the hospitals surveyed received a green rating or "very good performance".

St Vincent's University Hospital in Dublin, Midland Regional Hospital Mullingar and Mallow General Hospital were considered the best performing hospitals - but only with a ranking of "average performance".

(BMcC/JM)

Related Irish News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

13 June 2013
Protection Of Life During Pregnancy Bill Published
The Protection of Life during Pregnancy Bill has been published by the government following approval by the Cabinet. Several significant changes have been made to the outline of the Bill, which was published in April. The Minister for Health will be given the power to stop suspended an institution if deemed to be operating the Act inappropriately.
29 September 2008
Quarter Of HSE Backroom Staff Face Redundancy
A quarter of all Health Service Executive backroom staff are now facing redundancy following an announcement from the Health Service's Chief Executive. Brendan Drumm, the HSE boss, made the announcement on the RTÉ Marian Finucane programme, where he said about 25% of the total backroom staff faced redundancy within the next year.
05 February 2016
Child Dies Of Swine Flu
Ireland's Health Service Executive (HSE) has confirmed a child has died from a strain of influenza, linked to swine flu. It is understood the child, who was from the west of Ireland, died in a Dublin hospital within the last week. They are believed to have had the H1N1 strain of influenza, responsible for the 2009 swine flu outbreak.
12 October 2015
Pensioner Dies In Co Monaghan Road Crash
A pensioner has died following a road collision in Co Monaghan. The two-vehicle incident occurred on the R188, Monaghan to Cootehill road, at Stranooden on Saturday. A passenger in one of the cars, a female aged in her 80s, was taken by ambulance to Cavan General Hospital, however she was later pronounced dead.
08 May 2015
Significant Deficiencies Highlighted At Midland General Hospital - Report
Significant deficiencies have been highlighted at Midland General Hospital in Portlaoise, according to a report by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA).