Most against smaller hospital services moving

[Posted: Thu 26/08/2010 by Niall Hunter, Editor www.irishhealth.com]

A majority of people do not agree that services at some smaller hospitals are unsafe and should be moved to larger centres, according to the latest Irishhealth.com visitors' poll.

The independent safety watchdog, HIQA recently launched a probe into services at Mallow General Hosital in Co. Cork.

The safety probe centres on concerns about major surgery,A&E and critical care at the hospital.

And the safety body also warned that there are a number of smaller hospitals continuing to provide care to acutely ill patients where care is not being provided reliably and safely. It says it has not been assured by the HSE's responses to its concerns on safety issues at these hospitals.

In view of the fact that some services at smaller hositals are already being moved moved to larger centres on safety grounds, we asked our readers if they agreed with this policy.

Only one in three 33% agreed with moving services away from smaller hospitals, while over half of respondents (55%) said no, and a further one in eight (12%) were unsure. To have your say on the quality of any hospital you or a relative has attended recently, log on to RateMyHospital.ie and complete the online survey.

View the poll results and comments, as well as results of previous polls, here