Portiuncula Hospital has been judged only an "average" performer in the latest hospital rankings from the Health Service Executive (HSE).

The Ballinasloe-based hospital is among 22 nationwide in the average performance bracket, scoring mediocre results for absenteeism and waiting times, among the HSE data examined from July.

However, the ranking league brings much worse news for nearby Tullamore Hospital, the worst performer countrywide. The hospital should be seeing all patients referred to the outpatient clinics by their GP for tests and scans within 70 days. However, a patient has to endure a holdup of 300 days for an MRI scan, 120 for an ultrasound and 85 for CT examination.

The league table, started in 2009, is compiled by the Health Service Executive based on data mostly supplied by 31 acute hospitals covering areas like waiting times for surgery or delays in the A&E.

It places facilities in three categories - top performers, average performers and worst performers. Just 11 in Ireland were judged in the top rank and of "very good performance" including Mullingar Hospital.