One in three A&E patients unhappy with service
One third of A&E patients are unhappy with the service, a university led survey revealed today.
The Insight07 study headed by researchers at UCD found a high degree of confidence and trust with medics but problems remain in the country's emergency units.
Despite this more than three quarters of patients said they were prepared to recommend health services.
Minister for Health Mary Harney said the good experiences were often overshadowed by the bad ones.
"Most people have very busy lives and if they have a hospital experience they want to get in, get treated and get out and thankfully the experience of the vast majority is a very positive one," she said.
"When people have a positive, not just in health but in all walks of life, we don't tend to talk about it. The things we tend to talk about are the things that go wrong."
The study, carried out by the School of Public Health and Population Science in University College Dublin and Lansdowne Market Research, for the Health Service Executive (HSE) surveyed 3,517 people across the country.
One third reported fair, poor or very poor levels of service in A&E units and a third also said they did not know what the HSE initials stand for.
The survey found high ratings of confidence and trust in hospital and community care of between 67% and 86%.
Most people said they were admitted to hospital in a timely manner - three quarters immediately.
Stephen McMahon, chairman of the Irish Patients' Association, said the survey showed strong performance but room for improvement.
"Obviously the challenge is now to ensure the patients who had a bad experience, the elements that contributed to that such as waiting times, poor hygiene, are improved and targets are set," he said.
"We want 100% performance but that does not detract from the high 70% satisfaction we have seen."
Last year Ireland came second last in the Euro Health Consumer Index measure of patient satisfaction. The 2007 survey is out on Monday.
Professor Brendan Drumm, HSE chief executive, said the Insight07 survey was further proof the HSE was getting it right.
"These results confirm again what we found from last year's Emergency Department research and the research among inpatients before that - the health service is getting it right for most of the people, most of the time," he said.
"The results are based on the direct experience of people who have used the health service rather than opinions. They are therefore a true reflection of how the majority, rather than the vocal minority, view the health service.
"It is time that staff got the credit for what is very positive feedback from people who are using our services."
The survey said while medical card holders were more likely to use the health service and have poorer health, there was no notable difference in satisfaction between them and non-cardholders.
The study found overall positive ratings of quality of care. In all four service settings: 90% of inpatients, 85% of outpatients, 97% of GP patients and 89% of other community service patients rated their experience as excellent , very good or good.
There was also a high level of people who would recommend the service with 83% of inpatients, 73% of outpatients and 90% of GP patients.
