Claim of 'world-class' HSE is disputed

Claims that the HSE is becoming 'world class' are being rebuffed.

The head of the health service Professor Brendan Drumm said in the last five-years key reforms mean the HSE has 1,000 fewer beds but is treating more patients.

He also said it has saved hundreds of millions of euro for the tax payer in areas like drug fees.

But Health Correspondent with the Sunday Business Post Aileen O'Meara has said the list of negatives in the HSE far outweighs the positive.

Ms O'Meara said: "A&E departments are full in a lot of parts of the country.

"As we speak, the North-East Drogheada hospital is a mess, the North-West Sligo cancer services - really, that is a decision that I think was proven to be wrong.

"Care of the elderly and home-care packages (are) a really very difficult area that's not been sorted out properly; huge inefficiencies in staffing, administration and management."