Mt Carmel or Holles St Private?

Sligo1

Hello,

Would really appreciate any feedback from those who have had a baby in Mt Carmel.

I had my first in Holles St last year. Chose to go private. Basically although the young midwives were brilliant during my delivery... I found the older staff awful! I won't get into it too much but I just found their manner and the way they felt they could speak to my visiting family extremely rude. I also found the hospital itself to be like something from the stone age! I could not fault the care tho... And I would be very comfortable that if something had gone wrong during the delivery or aftercare that my baby would be well taken care of... This is why I will prob go with Holles St again.

I would love any feedback from Mt Carmel tho! I have heard the hospital is a lot nicer and the staff are lovely (and yes I know you are paying for it!). But my main concern is that if something went wrong (seriously wrong) with baby they would not have the facilities to deal with it? I know they have a special care baby unit... But I don't think this is as specialised as those in the larger hospitals?

So basically if it comes to a decision of where baby would be better looked after I will opt for Holles St. Does anyone know if this is the case?

Thanks and sorry for long post!

lazygal

I was also in Holles St, went private. I agree 100% on the older staff. I've decided to go there again though, mainly because I loved my consultant and had a few complications last time so wanted her again. I had a meeting with her post birth and outlined some of my issues with the staff on the wards which made me feel better!

This time around I'm far more vocal with the staff. I've had few tests and things, and I ask for a full explanation for each procedure before they start. Sometimes I've found them a bit snotty but that's not my problem - they can get as offended as they like but I'm not a child that can be patronised and I won't be fobbed off.

I also plan on being a lot more upfront with the staff when I'm having the baby and after the birth, and my husband is the same. One thing which did my head in was their attitude towards himself, that he was a useless man who didn't have a clue. I won't be standing for nonsense like this!


I know a few women who went to Mount Carmel and all bar one had a good experience and were well looked after. I'd have considered it myself but location doesn't suit us at all.

Moonbeam

If I lived nearer I would go to Mt Carmel, I have only heard brilliant things about it.

highly1111

My sisters and sister in law all had their babies in MC. my sisters had wonderful experiences on their babies (5 pregnancies - 6 babies) but my sister in law had an awful experience. Ended up fracturing her pelvis and being in a wheelchair for 3 weeks after the birth - possibly could have happened anywhere but she's convinced it was preventable.

from a medical point of view there were a few issues with my sister's last baby and MC wouldn't treat her anymore due to the lack of facilities that baby may have required when born so she was transferred to Holles st at 20 weeks.

I've had all 3 of mine in holles st - agree with you about some of the older staff. However I also found that I was treated every differently on my 2nd and 3rd deliveries and in the ward afterwards. I think they take your requests a lot more seriously as you know what you're talking about. However as you say MC is a far nicer hospital in terms of its infrastructure. I don't know how the staff in HS work under some of those conditions.

Good luck with your decision and congratulations.

Annabananna

Hey I had both my babies in Mt carmel and it was a great experience as for your concern about the baby they have a Special care unit and they cater for babies from 32 weeks on.

Also Mount carmel have an adult ICU so if something were to happen to you you wont be moved while in Holles Street you may be.

I cant sing Mount carmel praises enough from the minute we entered we were treated with kindness and nothing was a issue with them. My husband had just had a disc removed before we had our first they got him a special chair and made sure he felt involved in the whole process he was asked did he want to see me getting epidural he said yes then they got him involved in keeping me still. I had two midwives with me nearly all the time and my doctor delivered both my children even though one was Saturday at 1.30am and the other Sunday at 6am . I went in on a false alarm at 38 weeks and they called him on a Saturday morning he was there in 20 mins and decided to discharge me and told me to rest as I wasn't favourable but he give me his mobile and told me to call him anytime.

Also you don't have to keep the baby at night and that means you be able to sleep and having one at home already it be good to get some proper sleep in the hospital.

I also believe that the semi private rooms only have 4 beds in them both times I was in a 2 bed and no one else was admitted so had room to myself.

If you have any question feel free to pm me.

Sligo1

Hi guys, thanks to all who took the time to reply! At the moment I'm still undecided. Would love to go to Mt. Carmel but I think I'm veering towards Holles St... Just incase something were to happen... I'm prob a bit of a worrier I know!

Lazygal... I think you're right! If we do go to Holles St I'm going to make it clear from the outset that I won't be taking any sh*te from anyone who feels they can be rude or speak down to us.

Thanks again guys x

Ciarabear

As someone due to have her baby at Holles St., I'm very curious to know the issues regarding older staff -I'm assuming perhaps they were a little abrupt/dismissive or something?

Moonbeam

I had 3 there and prefered the older staff for when I was giving birth they were amazing. The younger ones were nice too though.

Hannibal Smith

I had my two in holles street. I was in for three weeks on the first and and two weeks on the second. I dont mind the older staff so much. ..I was semi private and I know the head nurse in tge semi private clinic can be very condescending. ..but I dont take crap so I set her straight from the outset and she was grand after that.

As an inpatient silly things like the tea lady pulling back the curtain as I was being examined really annoyed me.


Having said that, if I had the money I would go mount carmel...my sis in law had her children there and the comfort she was in was unbelievable. ..room wise. It was so plush and the staff were so lovely.

Moonbeam

I spent 3 days 1 and 1:)
3 days in the Merrion Wing was nice but 1 night was enough in semi private.

Hello Lady!

The thing that put me off both MC and Holles street is that the number of scans is limited in the package (I think it's three included). All extra scans are at a price of €95 per scan. Given that private care is not cheap, I thought this was just too cheeky. The Rotunda include all scans as prescribed by your doctor in their packages, both Semi- and fully- private. For this reason we went with the Rotunda, and I am glad now that we did, as we since have found out we're having twins and at only 15 weeks I have already had 4 scans and have been told I will have a scan every 4-6 weeks. That would cost us over €600 in addition to the basic fees, and I just think this is too much when you are already paying thousands for maternity care.

lazygal

I am scanned at every visit by my consultant. Its not a detailed scan, as in the 20 week anomaly scan level of detail and I wouldn't expect that at every visit, but she spends time having a good look at baby, placenta, and levels of fluid. There's no extra charge for this and AFAIK its the same for every other private consultant. Maybe SP patients don't get it in Holles Street, but it was included in the information on fees that all scans, apart from anomaly scans, were part of the package.

Mr.Fred

I never understand people wanting to go to Mount Carmel instead of an actual maternity hospital. Who cares if Mt.Carmel has nice wall paper and fresh flowers everyday. You want to be where your baby will receive the highest quality of care if any issue should arise during your pregnancy.

lazygal

Mr.Fred wrote: »

I never understand people wanting to go to Mount Carmel instead of an actual maternity hospital. Who cares if Mt.Carmel has nice wall paper and fresh flowers everyday. You want to be where your baby will receive the highest quality of care if any issue should arise during your pregnancy.

I can understand why. Location, wanting a specific consultant, wanting your own space, having a bit of minding during pregnancy and the aftermath - I'd have no hesitation going there if the location suited us. Don't be so judgmental. Women aren't choosing care based on wallpaper and fresh flowers - although that comment speaks volumes about your views of pregnant women and the choices they make.

Sligo1

Mr.Fred wrote: »

I never understand people wanting to go to Mount Carmel instead of an actual maternity hospital. Who cares if Mt.Carmel has nice wall paper and fresh flowers everyday. You want to be where your baby will receive the highest quality of care if any issue should arise during your pregnancy.

I'm guessing Mr. Fred is male....

Having said that my husband would never make such a comment....

Sligo1

lazygal wrote: »

I am scanned at every visit by my consultant. Its not a detailed scan, as in the 20 week anomaly scan level of detail and I wouldn't expect that at every visit, but she spends time having a good look at baby, placenta, and levels of fluid. There's no extra charge for this and AFAIK its the same for every other private consultant. Maybe SP patients don't get it in Holles Street, but it was included in the information on fees that all scans, apart from anomaly scans, were part of the package.

Yep I was also scanned at every appointment for no extra charge when I was private in Holles street... Just to check heartbeat, positioning etc etc. the only scan I had to pay extra for were anomaly scans.

Hello Lady!

lazygal wrote: »

I am scanned at every visit by my consultant. Its not a detailed scan, as in the 20 week anomaly scan level of detail and I wouldn't expect that at every visit, but she spends time having a good look at baby, placenta, and levels of fluid. There's no extra charge for this and AFAIK its the same for every other private consultant. Maybe SP patients don't get it in Holles Street, but it was included in the information on fees that all scans, apart from anomaly scans, were part of the package.

Sligo1 wrote: »

Yep I was also scanned at every appointment for no extra charge when I was private in Holles street... Just to check heartbeat, positioning etc etc. the only scan I had to pay extra for were anomaly scans.

Ok, so maybe its at the discretion of the consultant. Their fees page actually specifies that scans are a seperate charge and I double checked this with them
http://www.nmh.ie/_fileupload/privateFeesWeb-2.pdf

The reason I say it must be at the discretion of the consultant is because 2 of my friends went to Holles street - one private and one public. Both said they only got the scheduled 3 scans. The private lady was scanned at her first visit at 16 weeks and then not again til 20 weeks, the public lady was scanned at first visit at 13 weeks and not again until 24 weeks. So it must depend on the consultant.

Mount Camel were very clear that anything more than 3 scans were to be paid for. When I explained I'm having twins they said they could do a discounted rate for me of €80 per scan instead of €95. When we weighed it all up, given the price, location and additional costs we decided to stick with the Rotunda. We also wanted a hospital with the full facilities given its twins just in case.

I don't have any issue one way or the other with the different hospitals. I have heard good and bad experiences of all of them, which I think is to be expected with healthcare.

lazygal

Those fees refer to anomaly scans. No one gets that at every visit, there's only one done at 20 weeks and another if medically indicated at 34 weeks. Scans during consultant visits in their rooms are part of the fees. We paid for two last time and one this time, and claimed on med1 and VHI for them.

Hello Lady!

Anomally scans are also included in the Rotunda, no extra charge.

When I contacted Holles street to double check about the scans, I got an email back saying that 3 developmental scans were included (20/28/36 weeks) anything after that was at the price listed in the link I posted. And as I said, not everyone seems to get scanned at every visit, private or not. I think they should be more consistent with this TBH. But I am sure if you insisted on a scan at every visit they probably would.