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AS MANY IRISH people are pessimistic about the future of healthcare in this country as are optimistic about it, a new report claims.

The report, commissioned by MSD Healthcare Ireland from Ipsos MRBI,  states that 39% of the people surveyed are pessimistic about the future of Irish healthcare services.

40% of those surveyed are optimistic about the future of healthcare here.

Other findings of the report are:

• 80% of people would visit a pharmacy rather than attend their GP
• 84% of people think that healthcare workers should be able to access their records electronically
• 85% of those surveyed think that ‘respect’ is very important for healthcare professionals to observe

The report, entitled ‘My Healthcare, My Future’ consulted 1,000 Irish people by telephone, together with a series of focus groups and interviews with industry experts and professionals.

The point regarding ‘respect’ indicates that the public equate their use of healthcare services with the use of any other consumer service, and as such wish their experience to be replete with ‘appropriate reassurance, empathy, privacy, and respect’, according to the report.

Time to discuss concerns

71% of respondents believe that adequate time should be given to them to discuss their concerns during healthcare consultations.

74% of those surveyed meanwhile think that Irish patients should be able to access their own health records electronically.

Approval rates for both GPs and pharmacists (82% and 86% respectively) are relatively high however.

The report was launched today by Minister for Health Simon Harris, who described it as “a valuable piece of research which will complement the work carried out in my own department and elsewhere”.

You can view the full report here.

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