Would you self-pay for an operation?

At least pay for an appointment to see the best consultant you can for your condition. Maybe their are other options, stop gaps, treatments until your health cover covers it.

And ask them what the best thing to do is.

And get a realistic idea of the cost. Etc etc etc

Also, it might be possible to travel abroad for cheaper/better treatment.

Train to Dublin. Stand when you need to. And same on Dublin bus ?

I've done this before. Find a consultant, ring the secretary for an appointment. The Mater Private is v expensive (the care was poor in my experience also) . Usually a consultant works in various hospitals and all will charge different prices. You can also negotiate with the hospital believe it or not! I think you should look into it for sure. You might actually be surprised at the varying costs. Best of luck

Ultimately if it gets anymore out of hand and even if it doesn’t I’d present myself in a&e....you can sleep, appetite diminished, pain unbearable and can’t sit...

I thought you were in agonising pain. Are you still working?

A&E though are not just for life threatening or seriously ill people...

about 5-10 % of people there are junkies for example who’ve been in a minor scrap, scrape or entanglement ...

go there.

Personally I'd take the 10K loan. Repayments over 5 years are 199 a month with Bank of Ireland.

The financial pain would be more than worth it to have your health back. You can't live in that kind of pain for years.

I'd second what MissGriff said above and check out the neurosurgeon route. There are a few in CUH which you could call to check what their waiting times might be. Your condition may also mean you might get priority. Then just get your GP to refer you. Contact details listed in the link bit I think Prof O Sullivan is retired: https://cuhcpc.ie/services/neurological-surgery/

Was your previous disc surgery done by a neurosurgeon?

Ok, might be no harm checking with one of the others. For example Chris Lim and Mahmoud Kamel are definitely still active.

Re the comment on mortgage protection above, unfortunately this isn't true. The vast majority of people have mortgage protection, which pays back the bank if you die before the mortgage is paid off. A much smaller number of people have mortgage repayment protection as well as mortgage protection- this makes your repayments if you're ill or out of work. MRP is not standard and is expensive, hence most people don't have it. Even for those that do, the insurers go to great lengths to avoid paying out- if you do have MRP read the policy document to make sure elective surgery is covered.

OP, I would investigate the cost of private treatment and phone around some of the consultants offices to establish what their waiting lists are like. If it means borrowing the cost, surely its worth it if the pain you're experiencing is alleviated. Best of luck.

Strongly advise against going abroad. What if there are complications along the way?

You can either upgrade your health insurance and wait or take out a loan and do it now. But I’d take this as a lesson and upgrade your VHI either way

Depends on the specific policy. I’m with Irish life too and I’m covered for 50% of the cost in the Mater Private but there are loads of other options. You’ll also notice that certain policies have a co payment for some orthopaedic procedures but you’d need to give them the specific details to be sure.

I see my health insurance as one of the essential bills I have every month

Could you change GP?

Although I don't know how easy that is. Looking in to it myself.

I've needed several (private) referrals in the past few years and I always ring the consultant's secretary to check they've received my GP's referral and enquire when my appointment might be, similarly for scans, Xrays. I'd do that if I were you - it would put your mind at rest anyway. I do trust my doctor but as a retired GP I know how referrals - which are almost always done electronically now - can sometimes get overlooked or buried. Practices have been up to their eyes with Covid, vaccines and backlogs and unfortunately this means that sometimes a patient just needs to stay on their case.

You can ring the hospital switchboard and ask for the consultant's secretary or find their number on the hospital website. I hope you get some relief soon.

Numerous

Firstly the lack of GP's

Secondly, most practices full

Thirdly, all extremely busy.

In relation to Medical Card Holders.

Generally Medical card holder are assigned a GP or GP has assisted in applying for the MC.

To Change existing GP whilst a MC holder , the process involves applying for a move through the HSE and there is no guarantees there's another GP either willing to take on a new MC patient or indeed there's even one available on the panel within a geographical location of the patient. Whilst the MC can in certain circumstances be used in out of hour services , Hospital visits etc, they are generally assigned for usage by a nominated GP, indeed MC have the name of the GP assigned on them.

This is the simplified version but if your a MC Holder (I am) it is not straightforward moving to a new GP , thankfully my own, generally excellent.

Got a cataract removed up North at the start of last year under the Cross Border scheme (got in just before the effects of Brexit took that option out) having been told it could be 6 years on the waiting list (no insurance) and having already waited 3 of those.

Cost me about €500 net by the time I was done. Very efficient and helpful team that run that section. Had the money back in about a month after the operation.

It really is and the old saying , Private is faster is really no longer the case in certain disciplines. I think the shortage of GP's and indeed specialist consultants, coupled with increased workload is having a real impact on both private and public patients.