HSE not meeting its targets on service delivery

THE HSE is still failing to reach its own targets to improve emergency department waits, vaccine coverage, staff absenteeism, child care social worker levels and child disability assessments.

The health service’s annual report for 2010 has revealed that despite saving more than €145 million through drug cost reductions and staff cuts, the system continues to struggle.

According to the detailed document, two out of every five patients in Ireland — the equivalent of tens of thousands of people — are still being forced to wait more than six hours before they are treated in public emergency departments.