HSE awards itself top marks

The HSE has awarded itself high marks in its own assessment of its performance, its CEO Prof Brendan Drumm said today.

Prof Drumm told the Oireachtas Health Committee that in relation to its Corporate Plan objectives, in 23 of the 35 representative areas measured, the HSE is performing at 70% or greater against our 2011 target.

He said this statistic is based on an analysis of its own performance recently completed by the HSE.

"With over two years to go in the life cycle of this Corporate Plan, these are positive results."

Prof Drumm said the HSE was performing well in the level and speed of reduction in MRSA levels, childhood vaccination and in the establishment of child and adolescent mental health teams.

He said areas that needed focused attention included breast-feeding and caesarean section rates, disability assessment rates and "emergency department experiences" in selected hospitals.

Referring to recent statistics which showed that 9,000 operations had been cancelled in the first six months of this year, the HSE chief said it was a tribute to staff across the country "that cancellations rates are relatively low".

He admitted, however, that cancellations are distressing for patients, but stressed that the health service must adapt swiftly and put emergencies first.

Prof Drumm said at the end of August, 127 new primary care teams were holding clinical team meetings and it is planned to have 210 teams holding clinical meetings by the end of the year.

He said absenteeism rates among HSE staff were reducing.

On the swine flu epidemic, Prof Drumm said this poses a challenge to the population and the health service.

He said the rate of influenza-like illnesses has risen from 45 per 100,000 to 76 per 100,000 following the opening of schools.

Prof Drumm said the mass vaccination programme for the entire population would begin in early 2010, with higher risk groups being vaccinated first.

[Posted: Wed 07/10/2009]