Hospital beds and hygiene top issues for public, say polls

A SHORTAGE of beds and poor hygiene standards in hospitals are the biggest problems facing the Irish health system, according to two new surveys on public attitudes.

Three out of five people (60%) believe the provision of hospital beds should be the main priority in tackling the health crisis, according to preliminary findings of the 2007 Health Index from the pharmaceutical company Pfizer.

Making GP services more accessible is the second- biggest priority. Nine per cent of those surveyed said they would make doctors more accessible, while a further 9% said they would provide more medical cards, if they were in charge of the health service.

The survey will also look at the attitudes and perceptions of immigrants regarding the Irish health system, and living in Ireland generally. The final report, which will be published in early September, will show that nine out of 10 immigrants are here to work or to find work.

Last year’s Pfizer Health Index showed that more than a third (36%) of Irish people claimed to suffer from one or more serious medical conditions, including cancer, heart disease, chronic pain and arthritis. More than a fifth said their condition had an impact on their quality of life.

Manager of Pfizer Ireland Dave Gallagher said this year’s survey would show “a variety of issues, including personal health perceptions, health concerns and priorities.”

He said: “What we need to do is build a focus on reducing preventable illness and shifting resources to keeping people well and healthy rather than overwhelming concentration on sickness.”

A separate poll, published on the irishhealth.com website, found that dirty hospitals are the biggest health worry.

Little more than a fifth (22%) of respondents answered “hygiene” when asked the question: Which problem in the health service do you think requires the most urgent attention?

The public was also concerned about other issues, such as waiting lists for operations (21%); lack of hospital beds (21%); A&E trolley waits (19%); and hospital-acquired infections (17%).