Every county should have an A&E

EMERGENCY departments along with acute hospitals are wanted in every county in Ireland, a new consumer survey reveals.

The findings come in the face of cancer service cuts and a cap on the recruitment of health employees.

Over 3,500 people were asked about the health system, including their access to services, treatment and the quality of care provided.

Some 96% said there should be Accident and Emergency departments in every county. Up to 84% also want an acute hospital in every county.

The research, the first large scale study of people who have used hospitals and community care, also found strong satisfaction with health services.

Confidence and trust in care received was rated between 67% and 86%.

Health Service Executive (HSE) chief Brendan Drumm welcomed the results: “It is time that staff got the credit for what is very positive feedback from people who are using our services.”

The survey — conducted by UCD and Lansdowne Market Research last year — also showed nearly 60% of people want smoking outside hospital entrances banned.

While a high number approved of care and professionals, up to one third of outpatients did say they had no trust in health professionals who treated them.

Most people questioned were satisfied with the cleanliness of hospitals.

Mr Drumm said the study endorsed current HSE actions.

“While we accept that there are individual cases where our services fail to provide care up to the standard we would want, and we are working hard to address these, to present them as representative of the whole health service is clearly unfair to patients, staff and community as a whole,” he added.

Altogether, up to a quarter of respondents had to wait between one month and over six months to be treated.

Meanwhile, health unions met HSE chiefs yesterday ahead of an expected Labour Relations Commission hearing over recently announced health cuts.

No agreement though was reached The National Implementation Body — used to negotiate disagreements in the social partnership process — criticised the HSE last week over its cost-cutting plan to claw back a €245 million financial deficit.

The HSE is expected to meet on Monday to decide if the cuts can be lifted or if its freeze on recruiting staff will continue.