Cost of public versus semi-private care

contrary_mary

Little Miss Cutie wrote: »

Apologises, I was basing it on the signs in a&e that state €100 for outpatient scans. I assumed there was a charge each time as I have been scanned on all my visits to a&e

Oh maybe that's new - I had a scan on all A&E visits too. I'm trying to think when my last one was - it was a good few months ago now anyway. God I'm glad it wasn't there for my last pregnancy as I was in there once or twice a week for months on end!

Little Miss Cutie

contrary_mary wrote: »

Oh maybe that's new - I had a scan on all A&E visits too. I'm trying to think when my last one was - it was a good few months ago now anyway. God I'm glad it wasn't there for my last pregnancy as I was in there once or twice a week for months on end!

Ah stop I'm the same, it's a bad sign when they know your name walking out of the lift!

LegacyUser

Can't compare the care between private, semi and public, but just wanted to say that the fee for blood tests was introduced in Sept this year in Holles Street, so anyone who had booked in before that may not have been charged.
Can't find the link to fees on the website at the moment, but it is stated somewhere.

appledrop

I am private in the Rotunda and all blood tests/scans are covered as part of the fees there is no extra cost. I have heard people mention before though that Holles Street can charge extra for these if you are semi-private/ private.

It is an individual choice if people chose to go public, private or semi-private. Some people have a great experience in the public system but others don't. I have a number of friends who have gone semi-private and they do seem to think that you are better off going public or private but they don't see the point of semi-private and won't do it again.

For me personally going private is the best decision I have ever made and I'm only 16 weeks! I have had a very difficult first trimester and would never have received the care I have so far if I was a public patient. I had an early scan at 8 weeks at then had to be admitted straight away as I was suffering from Hyperemesis Gravidarum and thyroid problems. If I was public none of this would have been followed up on this early as I would not have been seen until 12 weeks at the earliest. My consultant is monitoring me closely and the peace of mind this gives you is amazing.

It annoys me when people go on about the private room after the birth as the reason people pick this option. I couldn't care less about that. What I do care about is been looked after and listened to. For some people the public system fits the bill but it's not for everyone.

Hazelnut Button

appledrop wrote: »

I had an early scan at 8 weeks at then had to be admitted straight away as I was suffering from Hyperemesis Gravidarum and thyroid problems. If I was public none of this would have been followed up on this early as I would not have been seen until 12 weeks at the earliest. My consultant is monitoring me closely and the peace of mind this gives you is amazing.

For some people the public system fits the bill but it's not for everyone.

I'm public and had some issues early on. I had early scan at 7 weeks and again at 9.5weeks. I think regardless of being public or private they will do their best to see you if circumstances require it.

As you said for some it fits the bill. So far, I can't fault public system.

greenorchard

appledrop wrote: »

For me personally going private is the best decision I have ever made and I'm only 16 weeks! I have had a very difficult first trimester and would never have received the care I have so far if I was a public patient. I had an early scan at 8 weeks at then had to be admitted straight away as I was suffering from Hyperemesis Gravidarum and thyroid problems. If I was public none of this would have been followed up on this early as I would not have been seen until 12 weeks at the earliest. My consultant is monitoring me closely and the peace of mind this gives you is amazing.

I was a public patient & admitted for hyperemesis during my pregnancy. I don't see how being private would've made the slightest difference, I received the same care for it as anyone else would.

I also had a scan at 6 weeks due to spotting. They wouldn't just turn you away cos your first official appointment isn't until 12 weeks.

Personally I couldn't fault the care I received during my pregnancy. I went with midwife led care & saw the same midwife at most of my appointments. If I have another I'll definitely go public again.

LegacyUser

I went semi-p on my first pregnancy in holles street almost 3 years ago. Covered by laya. Only costs to me were the €900 and then I think I paid €47 after the birth for something, not too sure but I didn't get the bill until baby was a few weeks old. Got a mini scan at every check up (and pictures too!) it was in a diff building to the place that public patients go and if appointment was for 12, you arrived at 12 and were seen within 30mins. Have a few friends that went public in holles street and they described it as a 'cattle market', most arriving at 7:30am and not being seen until 2 or 3 in the afternoon. Almost sure I got 50% of the €900 back from laya at the end of the year and was able to claim 20% tax back on the other 450€ So actual cost was very little. I would def choose semi private again. Level of care was great. Anytime I mentioned baby was moving a little less or they thought my bump looked small or my blood pressure was a little over what it should be, I was sent for a trace or admitted to day ward for a few hours to be monitored. In my own opinion, I don't feel they pay enough attention to public patients needing extra scans unless you shout and scream for them.

MichB2012

I went semi-p on my first pregnancy in holles street almost 3 years ago. Covered by laya. Only costs to me were the €900 and then I think I paid €47 after the birth for something, not too sure but I didn't get the bill until baby was a few weeks old. Got a mini scan at every check up (and pictures too!) it was in a diff building to the place that public patients go and if appointment was for 12, you arrived at 12 and were seen within 30mins. Have a few friends that went public in holles street and they described it as a 'cattle market', most arriving at 7:30am and not being seen until 2 or 3 in the afternoon. Almost sure I got 50% of the €900 back from laya at the end of the year and was able to claim 20% tax back on the other 450€ So actual cost was very little. I would def choose semi private again. Level of care was great. Anytime I mentioned baby was moving a little less or they thought my bump looked small or my blood pressure was a little over what it should be, I was sent for a trace or admitted to day ward for a few hours to be monitored. In my own opinion, I don't feel they pay enough attention to public patients needing extra scans unless you shout and scream for them.

annoyedgal

Have to disagree with this comment about the public clinics. On a good day I've been in and out in forty minutes. On average takes an an hour to hour and a half on a busy day. I'm I'm for 8 and usually anyways gone by 9.30 at latest. Also get a mini scan on each visit.
Downside is you are not seeing the same person on every visit which would be nice. Always found the staff in the public clinic very nice and efficenct.




quote="MichB2012;98231901"]I went semi-p on my first pregnancy in holles street almost 3 years ago. Covered by laya. Only costs to me were the €900 and then I think I paid €47 after the birth for something, not too sure but I didn't get the bill until baby was a few weeks old. Got a mini scan at every check up (and pictures too!) it was in a diff building to the place that public patients go and if appointment was for 12, you arrived at 12 and were seen within 30mins. Have a few friends that went public in holles street and they described it as a 'cattle market', most arriving at 7:30am and not being seen until 2 or 3 in the afternoon. Almost sure I got 50% of the €900 back from laya at the end of the year and was able to claim 20% tax back on the other 450€ So actual cost was very little. I would def choose semi private again. Level of care was great. Anytime I mentioned baby was moving a little less or they thought my bump looked small or my blood pressure was a little over what it should be, I was sent for a trace or admitted to day ward for a few hours to be monitored. In my own opinion, I don't feel they pay enough attention to public patients needing extra scans unless you shout and scream for them.[/quote]

mirrorwall14

annoyedgal wrote: »

Have to disagree with this comment about the public clinics. On a good day I've been in and out in forty minutes. On average takes an an hour to hour and a half on a busy day. I'm I'm for 8 and usually anyways gone by 9.30 at latest. Also get a mini scan on each visit.
Downside is you are not seeing the same person on every visit which would be nice. Always found the staff in the public clinic very nice and efficenct.




quote="MichB2012;98231901"]I went semi-p on my first pregnancy in holles street almost 3 years ago. Covered by laya. Only costs to me were the €900 and then I think I paid €47 after the birth for something, not too sure but I didn't get the bill until baby was a few weeks old. Got a mini scan at every check up (and pictures too!) it was in a diff building to the place that public patients go and if appointment was for 12, you arrived at 12 and were seen within 30mins. Have a few friends that went public in holles street and they described it as a 'cattle market', most arriving at 7:30am and not being seen until 2 or 3 in the afternoon. Almost sure I got 50% of the €900 back from laya at the end of the year and was able to claim 20% tax back on the other 450€ So actual cost was very little. I would def choose semi private again. Level of care was great. Anytime I mentioned baby was moving a little less or they thought my bump looked small or my blood pressure was a little over what it should be, I was sent for a trace or admitted to day ward for a few hours to be monitored. In my own opinion, I don't feel they pay enough attention to public patients needing extra scans unless you shout and scream for them.

[/quote]

Yeah I would disagree on the latter part. I had a ton of traces, scans and admittances as a public patient and none were shouted and screamed for

MichB2012

mirrorwall14 wrote: »

Yeah I would disagree on the latter part. I had a ton of traces, scans and admittances as a public patient and none were shouted and screamed for[/quote]

Just my own experience in comparison to those that I knew that were pregnant the same time as me.

uck51js9zml2yt

We had 2 in the rotunda public system.
My wife had problems on both but can't fault the care she had.
Can't count the times we were in a&e.
They even took her in early on number 2 due to him sitting on her hips and he went to post natal care for 3 days after his birth.

The first time she had a semi private bed, the second paragraph was a public bed.
You don't want to he semi at weekends. The lack of nurses was shocking.
One of the midwives attending the birth looked after my wife the first time and remembered her 3 years later.
All births are in the same set if suites and they are midwife led.

Diamond Doll

MichB2012 wrote: »

Have a few friends that went public in holles street and they described it as a 'cattle market', most arriving at 7:30am and not being seen until 2 or 3 in the afternoon.

In my case I was told to arrive at 8am for my checks. I worked around a 10 minute walk from Holles St. So I'd tell my manager that I'd probably be in late those days. In fact, I always arrived at Holles St at 8am or a few minutes before, and was almost always sitting at my desk by 9am or even earlier!

I think it depends on the consultant though, my one (Michael Foley) is known for being very efficient, I believe his nickname is Quick Mick!

Diamond Doll

Oh and I also should mention that I couldn't fault the care I received in Holles St for my ectopic pregancy. The staff were so caring and compassionate. I had numerous appointments for bloods and scans and the eventual termination, and I was never left waiting for more than a couple of minutes. They always made a point to have me waiting in a private room, so that I wouldn't be around other pregnant women (it actually didn't bother me when I was around them, but it was still very considerate of the staff.)

It took a few scans to confirm it was definitely ectopic, but the midwife there on the day doing the scan that eventually located the ectopic happened to be the same midwife who'd confirmed my viable pregnancy with my first baby, and she remembered me from then. I'd also had several scans on that pregnancy, as it was originally suspected to be ectopic, but all was fine in the end. And she'd been so genuinely happy for me.

I remember after the scan with the ectopic, she gave me a massive hug with tears in her eyes, and told me she fully expected to see me back there again soon with another healthy pregnancy. She then arranged for me to immediately see a consultant - I can't think of her name, but she specialises in ectopic pregnancies - who couldn't have been kinder to me. And it was so good to talk to her within just a few minutes of the ectopic being confirmed, discuss options etc. Instead of being given an appointment for days later.

So I guess what I'm saying is that the staff in Holles St, in general, are very lovely and compassionate and efficient, whether you go public or private! Even though I didn't have a good birth experience there first time around, I think I was just unlucky on the night, and would definitely go there if I ever have another baby.

greenorchard

MichB2012 wrote: »

Anytime I mentioned baby was moving a little less or they thought my bump looked small or my blood pressure was a little over what it should be, I was sent for a trace or admitted to day ward for a few hours to be monitored. In my own opinion, I don't feel they pay enough attention to public patients needing extra scans unless you shout and scream for them.

Also have to completely disagree that they don't pay enough attention to public patients. I was in the Coombe so can't comment on Holles St but my bump was measuring very small around my 36/37 wk appointment & the midwife sent me straight for a scan, I was seen & scanned within about 20 minutes.

I also never waited more than half an hour for any of my midwife appointments, sometimes I'd be waiting as little as 5 minutes. For the appointment with the consultant once I reached 40 weeks I was waiting maybe an hour.

ChewChew

Totally disagree also that public patients don't get the attention the need/deserve. I went public in The Coombe and could not fault them. Had my first scan at 6 weeks, was checked out for bleeds, had numerous traces and so many scans I lost count at 12!! Me and my baby were monitored so well and I was admitted twice before being induced at 37 weeks and I couldn't have been looked after any better. My baby was delivered safely after a turbulent few weeks from 32-37 weeks and a rock my labour and delivery. After the care I received there's no way I'd waste money going private. I was also lucky that I saw the same doctor at each visit bar one.

Arbiter of Good Taste

ChewChew wrote: »

Totally disagree also that public patients don't get the attention the need/deserve. I went public in The Coombe and could not fault them. Had my first scan at 6 weeks, was checked out for bleeds, had numerous traces and so many scans I lost count at 12!! Me and my baby were monitored so well and I was admitted twice before being induced at 37 weeks and I couldn't have been looked after any better. My baby was delivered safely after a turbulent few weeks from 32-37 weeks and a rock my labour and delivery. After the care I received there's no way I'd waste money going private. I was also lucky that I saw the same doctor at each visit bar one.

See, what I find annoying about posts like this is the inference - no the blatant assertion - that going private is a "waste" of money. If someone chooses to spend their money in this way, and can afford it, it's no way a waste.

We are going private in the rotunda because I want to see the same consultant each time. I want to be seen immediately at my appointed time and not wait half the morning for my scan. I like that I have my consultant's mobile number with instructions to ring 24/7 (though I've never done that!). I love that he responds to any email within hours. That is certainly not a waste of money as far as I am concerned.

ChewChew

Arbiter of Good Taste wrote: »

See, what I find annoying about posts like this is the inference - no the blatant assertion - that going private is a "waste" of money. If someone chooses to spend their money in this way, and can afford it, it's no way a waste.

We are going private in the rotunda because I want to see the same consultant each time. I want to be seen immediately at my appointed time and not wait half the morning for my scan. I like that I have my consultant's mobile number with instructions to ring 24/7 (though I've never done that!). I love that he responds to any email within hours. That is certainly not a waste of money as far as I am concerned.

After MY experience, I do believe it would be a waste for me. In my post I didn't talk about yours or anyone else's experiences, my own, therefore being a waste to me. You spend your money on whatever you want. You earn yours, I earn mine. Etc etc.

Diamond Doll

Arbiter of Good Taste wrote: »

See, what I find annoying about posts like this is the inference - no the blatant assertion - that going private is a "waste" of money. If someone chooses to spend their money in this way, and can afford it, it's no way a waste.

We are going private in the rotunda because I want to see the same consultant each time. I want to be seen immediately at my appointed time and not wait half the morning for my scan. I like that I have my consultant's mobile number with instructions to ring 24/7 (though I've never done that!). I love that he responds to any email within hours. That is certainly not a waste of money as far as I am concerned.

I went public and saw the same consultant each time.

I was seen at my appointment time and never had to wait for scans.

I don't need my consultant's mobile number, I have the hospital emergency number, which I needed to use a few times. Each time, when I arrived at the hospital, I was seen in minutes.

I get that you might be nervous as a first time parent. I get that, in general, public healthcare isn't great in Ireland. But in my experience, maternity care is an exception, and I wouldn't hesitate to go public again.

Digs

Arbiter of Good Taste wrote: »

See, what I find annoying about posts like this is the inference - no the blatant assertion - that going private is a "waste" of money. If someone chooses to spend their money in this way, and can afford it, it's no way a waste.

We are going private in the rotunda because I want to see the same consultant each time. I want to be seen immediately at my appointed time and not wait half the morning for my scan. I like that I have my consultant's mobile number with instructions to ring 24/7 (though I've never done that!). I love that he responds to any email within hours. That is certainly not a waste of money as far as I am concerned.

I don't think going private is a waste of money for everyone, some people have health issues or other concerns that require the offerings of the private system. We are on our second and have the where with all to go private, however, we decided for us it would be a waste of money. The things you listed are not something that would be a priority for us, although I disagree with you implying public patients wait half the morning for scans, that has not been my experience.

I find the recurrent inference that public patients are some how treated as second class citizens with less human rights (i.e. to be seen and treated for health issues) as ridiculous, by all means if people want to go private it's absolutely their choice but don't be under any illusion people are getting a lower level of care, I felt completely safe in the hands of my consultant and midwives on baby number 1. I am on my second spin through the public system and so far so good. Had my first appointment in Holles street three weeks ago, midwife consultation, bloods, consultant appointment and scan - in at 08.20am out at 09.25 (with a few pics of baby in my hand!) - two days later got a letter inviting me to attend the rhesus negative clinic at 28 weeks.

eviltwin

Went public with both of mine and got great care. I had two high risk pregnancies, the second required a lot of care and I was very satisfied with how I was treated. There were issues with staffing that were atrocious post delivery but as luck would have it I was in a semi private room with two private patients and they had more complaints than I did. Maternity here is very good on the public system.

Millem

I did domino and will Defo do it again. You choose the times of your appointments and I was never even waiting 1 minute. You have a number to ring them on anytime. You will meet all the team before you are 40 weeks and 1 will deliver your baby. They do a home visit before the birth and if your waters break at home but I was so close to them I went to them. They come to your house every day for 7+ days after the birth too. You also get free domino antenatal classes in the evening and cheaper tens machine.

I took part of a study which meant I had to go to holles street and gp also sent me in to a and e so I saw the queues the morning I was there there was only 1 mini scanner working so queues were dreadful as they wanted to scan everyone.

Diamond I gave birth a few days after you and the place was mad! One girl was left in labour room by herself that I told my domino midwife to go into her as I was grand!! During my labour midwife thought there was a problem with heart rate so they did some test and got consultant down to me straight away. I was meant to just stay in domino labour room after birth and go home but place was mental so got put onto ward for a few hours. As I was leaving they put beds widthways in the ward!! Cleaner and dinner lady went crazy and threatened to walk out!!!!

I really think maternity is different to normal healthcare system. Years ago I broke my wrist, went to beacon and had operation within hours. The consultant also worked in tallaght and told me there was a 4 day wait for same operation and you hear of poor people waiting a year + of operations whereas you could choose what day you want if you go private.

greenorchard

Digs wrote: »

I find the recurrent inference that public patients are some how treated as second class citizens with less human rights (i.e. to be seen and treated for health issues) as ridiculous, by all means if people want to go private it's absolutely their choice but don't be under any illusion people are getting a lower level of care, I felt completely safe in the hands of my consultant and midwives on baby number 1

This. I don't think anyone should have to justify going private, that's up to the individual. But there's been a lot of comments on this thread about public maternity care being inferior which is just not true. The priority in the hospitals is delivering healthy babies and any complications or issues will be dealt with in the same way regardless of whether the mother is private or public.

contrary_mary

I've been a public patient in holles st for 2 pregnancies (which sadly ended in miscarriages) and the care i received was excellent. On my 3rd pregnancy I was brought in for weekly scans from 6 weeks under the public system. I decided at the end of my first trimester to go private as the pregnancy was not going well and I was extremely anxious but the EPAU could no longer give me any additional care once I went past 12 weeks. My care under the private system was also excellent throughout - appointments did involve a lot less queuing and were in nicer surroundings and I got to see a consultant who had experience in my condition which was great. All along i said I didn't care about the private room afterwards but being in for 5 nights after a section it was a God-send!

I'm reaching the end of what will most likely be my last pregnancy and I went private again but this pregnancy has been largely textbook so I don't know that it has been worth it so far for antenatal care. However I'll be having another section unfortunately so I will be glad of the private room afterwards (if I'm lucky enough to get one again).

ted1

Arbiter of Good Taste wrote: »

See, what I find annoying about posts like this is the inference - no the blatant assertion - that going private is a "waste" of money. If someone chooses to spend their money in this way, and can afford it, it's no way a waste.

We are going private in the rotunda because I want to see the same consultant each time. I want to be seen immediately at my appointed time and not wait half the morning for my scan. I like that I have my consultant's mobile number with instructions to ring 24/7 (though I've never done that!). I love that he responds to any email within hours. That is certainly not a waste of money as far as I am concerned.

Unless there's complications you don't need a consultant at all.
Regarding the scheduled appointments I'd recommend going public on a mud wife led scheme or dominio.
We went private on out first, semi private on our second and then on a mid wife led scheme on our third.
By far the best care was provided by the mid wife's. As we live in Killiney we only had to go in to St. Michaels in Din Laoighre for out appointments as oppose to Holles street.
Then when we had the baby we got to go home the same day and had a visit from a mid wife daily for a week

pwurple

Private vs public is not about one being a waste, or the other being lower care.

The difference is the trimmings. Nicer building for your scans, higher chance of a nicer room after you give birth. The brass tacks are the same, sometimes you want the B&b, sometimes you want the spa hotel.

On an aside, Mid-wife led care didn't work for me, and I ditched it midway through the pregnancy. I kept getting referred back up to the hospital with low blood pressure every single time, even though my bp was in normal range, but on the lower end. They were being uber-cautious. So i was wasting time driving around between clinics, doubling my appointments. For someone more in the average range it probably works well, but not for me.

MichB2012

Anyone know if stay time differs in public vs semi private. I know generally it's 3days, or 5 days after section. But what about 2nd time round?

jlm29

I recently stayed three nights after having my second baby (I'm not in Dublin). I didn't need three nights- could have gone home after three hours, but I'm under no illusions. I was a private patient, and its revenue for the hospital. I know that I wouldn't have been kept three nights if I was a public patient. I don't know about semi-private. I've never heard it mentioned as an option in my local hospital.
For me, private care on my second turned out to be unnecessary. It was all so straight forward and simple that my partner probably could have delivered baby at home himself!!! My first, was more complicated (the labour, not the antenatal care), and it was reassuring to have the consultant who knew me there. If I couldn't afford it, I wouldn't be overly upset to go public if I have another, but I'd probably spend the money again if I could

January

MichB2012 wrote: »

Anyone know if stay time differs in public vs semi private. I know generally it's 3days, or 5 days after section. But what about 2nd time round?

72 hours after a c section now.

irishgirl19

MichB2012 wrote:

Anyone know if stay time differs in public vs semi private. I know generally it's 3days, or 5 days after section. But what about 2nd time round?

I stayed one night after I had my daughter in the coombe (public)