Confidence in HSE - Crisis needs addressing

The survey of 90 general practitioners by the Irish Medical Times shows a marked decline in satisfaction with the performance of the Health Service Executive (HSE) chief executive Professor Brendan Drumm.

Almost two-thirds of the GPs — or 63% to be more precise — think that Prof Drumm’s performance has been either “poor” or “very poor”. A similar survey in June 2007 presented a distinctly different picture.

Of the GPs surveyed last year, 12% thought Prof Drumm was doing an “above-average” job. But that level of satisfaction has declined dramatically.

Last month only 4% thought his performance was above average, which was down by two-thirds from the 12% of a year earlier. Moreover, satisfaction with his performance had also declined from 42% to 32%.

By comparison, the ratings for Health Minister Mary Harney were even worse. Two-out-of-three — or 66% — of the 90 doctors surveyed thought her performance was either “poor” or “very poor”. Only 1% — or in this case just one doctor — thought she is doing an excellent job, and just 3% rated her performance as above average.

Those figures suggest that Ms Harney and Prof Drumm have a frightening crisis of confidence that they both need to address without delay.