Waiting times 'among longest in Europe'

Ireland still has one of the worst waiting times for treatment across Europe, according to a survey on consumer healthcare.

But Health Service Executive reforms and increased investment have produced positive results and ranked Ireland 16th out of 29 states, one place ahead of the UK.

The findings are contained in the 2007 European Health Consumer Index, published today by the healthcare consultancy Health Consumer Powerhouse.

The study, which attempts to create a comparative index for national healthcare systems from a consumer's point of view, measures the standard of healthcare across a range of criteria including waiting times, outcomes and patient rights.

It said that reform in the Irish service appears to have started improving "an historically dismal performance".

But the system still suffered "severe waiting list problems and less than fantastic outcomes".

Last year, the index ranked Ireland 25th out of 26 states for healthcare but Minister for Health Mary Harney complained conclusions on some aspects of the Irish system had used out-of-date figures.

This year Ireland improved its ranking to sit mid-table alongside states like Spain, Czech Republic, UK and Italy.

The survey analysed 27 separate indicators in five categories: patients' rights to information; waiting times for common treatments; care outcomes; the generosity of the system; and access to medication.

Under the category of waiting times, Ireland was considered poor in terms of direct access to specialists without referrals, getting major non-acute operations in less than 90 days and access to cancer therapy within 21 days.

It received only an intermediary grade in terms of the ability to see a family doctor on the same day.

Ireland was deemed poor in terms of its MRSA infection rate and only intermediary when it comes to cancer survival rates and heart disease mortality.

The index ranked Austria first across Europe in terms of medical outcomes and accessibility to healthcare.

While having a slightly autocratic attitude to patient empowerment, it said, Austria leads the EU on overall cancer survival.

Austria was closely followed by the Netherlands, France, Switzerland and Germany while Estonia topped the list for the best value for money offered by a healthcare system.

Predictably, the Nordic countries also ranked highly with Sweden excelling in terms of overall medical quality, and Denmark on patient rights and information.

Fine Gael's health spokesman James Reilly said the index showed Irish health service was still failing to deliver adequate patient services despite massively increased investment.

"This report serves to confirm the reality of unacceptable treatment waiting times in Ireland. Despite a solemn promise to end waiting lists from Fianna Fail and the PDs, their record is one of dismal failure," he said.