VHI Swiftcare Swords

Chinafoot

I visited the VHI Swiftcare Clinic in Swords last Saturday, 19th of February, having hurt my back pretty badly. I was washing my hands in work after lunch and as a leaned forward I heard this horrible click and crunch sound and then felt a pain unlike anything I've ever felt before. I was sent home from work as I was unable to sit down, lean forward or do much of anything at all.

I went to the Swiftcare Clinic in Swords as, given the time of day, options were very limited. I spoke to a nurse who asked what happened, when it happened, where it hurt etc. She knew straight away that I had a shooting pain down my leg and that I must be in a lot of pain. I waited an hour and a half standing in the waiting room before being called back to see a doctor. I was then left for a further 10 minutes standing in the examination area before the doctor came in. He didn't tell me his name.

He launched right into the following;
"You've hurt your back. Healthy people don't break bones like that so you don't need an xray. Its probably just a muscle. A hot water bottle and some neurofen will be enough." At no point did he ask me how much pain I was in or where the pain was. The only examination I received was when he told me to turn around and banged on the top of my back. I told him that there was no pain in the top and pointed out exactly where the pain was and he ignored me. He asked me when I was back in work, I said Monday, he said thats fine. I told him that I work in a library and there is a lot of heavy lifting, shelving that involves very low shelves etc. He said "Stay at the front, let the others do it."

Then, he told me again to take neurofen and a hot water bottle and that was it. He left the room and the whole process took approximately 3 minutes. I then hobbled out to reception where I was charged €125.

After spending Saturday night and all of Sunday in pain I found another doctor who examined me properly, prescribed Difene and Diazepam and told me to stay out of work for at least a week as it was far too risky and I could damage my back further. This cost me another €66.

On Thursday I received a phonecall from VHI asking how my back is. As far as I am aware this appears to be a standard customer service call. I told the lady on the phone exactly what happened and that I would never be using their clinics in future. She said, "I understand that. Yeah, I am aware of the doctor you saw." She then gave me the contact details of a woman to email detailing what happened. I did this straight away and have as yet received no reply - which is fair enough given that I only mailed on Thursday.

Anyway, bascially I want to know if there is anything I can do here to get some of my money back? I know I should have kicked up a fuss there and then and demanded that the doctor do something for me but I was in so much pain, so shocked by what had happened and just upset at the poor treatment.

wmpdd3

I would def be pushing for a refund as you had a 2nd opinion is such a short space of time.

They will probably not admit anything about the doc but you could argue that he didn't give you time to explain the problem clearly and so were mis-diagnosed.

I got a refund before from a local doc but the serguy manager did everything but admit any fault on the part of the doctor. (mis-diagnosed too, a doc in the same surgery saw me the next day and picked it up).

Mmmuffin

I can empathise:

For the last year, after a fall I had, I have had pain in my wrist area. I initally got it xrayed, and a small fracture was found, but I never went back to be casted. Last Friday, I finally had enough of the pain, and I went to a local GP, who sent me immediately for another xray. I went to VHI Swiftcare, and the service was good up to this point, had the xray, and the doctor called me up to look at my xray, and told me I had indeed a fracture, pointed it out, and said that I really should of got the cast first time round. He then said he couldn't cast me then and there, because the injury was old, I would have to see their Orthopaedic Specialist on Tuesday. I spend the weekend in alot of pain, and the swelling over the weekend got alot worse, and concerned me. I went back Tuesday as planned, and now I'm confused! I was in the room all of 3 minutes with him, he seemed in an awful rush - he told me that my hand wasn't broken at all, that it's some problems with my muscles, and when I said that the previous hospital AND VHI had both said there was a break, it was only then he was willing to look a second time at the xray. Then he said, that the doctors there only try to look for some kind of resolution so will diagnose anything. I was shocked. He told me to get to hand physio (and then suggested a colleague of his to go to...), and let me out without any anti-inflammatories, or painkillers. Then, I was charged €100 for the 3 minutes I was with him... that shocked me more! I spent €50 for the initial GP fee, €179 for the first visit to VHI, and then another €100 to see the specialist... and then he says there is nothing wrong with me. I'm still in so much pain, and my hand is still swollen.

I'm not sure what I should do next to be honest!

wmpdd3

I say go to your local A&E. You'll have to get a second opinion.

Chinafoot

Quick update.

After my initial email of complaint I received a standard "we take complaints very seriously and will look into your case which can take 30 days" etc letter.

Today, I received a letter from the Group Medical Officer complete with a cheque of the €125 consultation fee. I'm very happy to get that cash back but I will never be using them again.

chompchomp

Those swiftcare clinics are a waste of time and money. By the way, Im n the business of taking xrays and I don't understand how they are codding people.

antoinolachtnai

What do you mean? Do they not have the capability to do what needs to be done?

I have never used them, but I do know someone who was happy enough with the service.

oneweb

I was thinking there must be some sort of medical ombudsman, sure enough there is for public practice.

There's the Medical Council http://www.medicalcouncil.ie which appears to cater for public and private. I'm sure if enough people contacted them they would investigate.

seamus

chompchomp wrote: »

Those swiftcare clinics are a waste of time and money.

I have to disagree tbh. 4 years ago I came off my bike and pretty badly split my lip. This was around 8am.

By 10am I was in the VHI clinic in Dundrum. So I was waiting for around 20 minutes for a doctor, fine. He examined me properly, made sure I didn't have concussion, explained the options to me and gave me five or six stitches. Then I got tetanus shot and a bill for €150. I was home by lunchtime and eating soup (couldn't eat anything else!).

If I'd gone to my local public hospital I would have arrived in at 10am and probably not gotten out until 5pm, and not saved very much money.

Similarly my wife injured her back last year which turned out to be 3 slipped discs. We were in Dundrum for no more than a hour during which she got a good consultation, some strong prescription drugs, a referall for an MRI and a lot of good advice for less than €200. She was properly crippled, couldn't walk, stand or sit without blinding pain, so we were both very glad that there was no waiting around in a waiting room.

If that had been a public hospital she would probably have ended up passing out in the waiting area from the pain of waiting around.

ferglaguna1

staff at clnic should tell you that you can return with 72 hours if you are not happy with the service

Guy:Incognito

seamus wrote: »

I have to disagree tbh. 4 years ago I came off my bike and pretty badly split my lip. This was around 8am.

By 10am I was in the VHI clinic in Dundrum. So I was waiting for around 20 minutes for a doctor, fine. He examined me properly, made sure I didn't have concussion, explained the options to me and gave me five or six stitches. Then I got tetanus shot and a bill for €150. I was home by lunchtime and eating soup (couldn't eat anything else!).

If I'd gone to my local public hospital I would have arrived in at 10am and probably not gotten out until 5pm, and not saved very much money.

Similarly my wife injured her back last year which turned out to be 3 slipped discs. We were in Dundrum for no more than a hour during which she got a good consultation, some strong prescription drugs, a referall for an MRI and a lot of good advice for less than €200. She was properly crippled, couldn't walk, stand or sit without blinding pain, so we were both very glad that there was no waiting around in a waiting room.

If that had been a public hospital she would probably have ended up passing out in the waiting area from the pain of waiting around.

I've been to A&E in Tallaght hospital twice with a broken finger in the last 3 years or so. Both time I've been in and out in an hour or so an been brought back in and operated ont he following thursday (both initial visits were saturdays). The 2nd time was the day of one of the 6 nations games last year , I got injured in a match that kicked off at 12 in DCU after about 20 mins. So I got dropped at the hospital at about half 1 or so. I had a local anesthetic, finger reset and bandaged up, walked home (20 min walk) got a shower & changed and walked to the pub (15 min walk) in time to only miss the first 5 mins of the match that kicked off at 4.

Forest Master

For the record, I've used the VHI clinic in Swords on Sunday 3rd April 2011 (morning) and was very happy. Staff were great, and waiting time was around 10mins. Was in & out in just over 30mins. My sister broke her wrist before & went there too and she was very happy.

A&E on a Sunday morning would have been a nightmare.

MagicMarker

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

I've been to A&E in Tallaght hospital twice with a broken finger in the last 3 years or so. Both time I've been in and out in an hour or so an been brought back in and operated ont he following thursday (both initial visits were saturdays). The 2nd time was the day of one of the 6 nations games last year , I got injured in a match that kicked off at 12 in DCU after about 20 mins. So I got dropped at the hospital at about half 1 or so. I had a local anesthetic, finger reset and bandaged up, walked home (20 min walk) got a shower & changed and walked to the pub (15 min walk) in time to only miss the first 5 mins of the match that kicked off at 4.

I've also been in Tallaght hospital on a couple of occasions with my mother in the last few months, the first time it took about 8 hours to see a doctor. Another time it took 12 hours. And this was for something a lot more serious than a broken finger.

ferglaguna1

You can have the same services from your local private healthclinic at lower rate When something goes wrong next time you attend you will be saying the exact same thing

Beefy78

Hi,

Is there anyway to use one of these VHI Swiftcare Centres and not pay there and then? I really need to visit one today but don't get paid til Thursday. I know I can visit A&E and then pay later but it's not really an A&E ailment though.

ferglaguna1

are for u for real

dudara

ferglaguna1 - If you have nothing helpful to post, then please don't post.

It was a genuine question - so genuine answers would be appreciated.

dudara