Anyone know how much a private orthopaedic consultant charges?

galwaygirl08

Not sure where to post this...?.

Does anyone know how much it costs to see a private consultant? I am being referred by my doctor to see an orthopaedic consultant in either Bons Secours or Merlin Pk Hospital. (Can't be dealing with a 2 year wait for an appointment in a public hospital)
I'm just hoping it ain't too pricey as I have no private health insurance, and I've just lost my medical card as I have returned to full time work.
Any info would be much appreciated,
Thanks,

byhookorbycrook

Inital appointment could be €100- 150

drzhivago

galwaygirl08 wrote: »

Not sure where to post this...?.

Does anyone know how much it costs to see a private consultant? I am being referred by my doctor to see an orthopaedic consultant in either Bons Secours or Merlin Pk Hospital. (Can't be dealing with a 2 year wait for an appointment in a public hospital)
I'm just hoping it ain't too pricey as I have no private health insurance, and I've just lost my medical card as I have returned to full time work.
Any info would be much appreciated,
Thanks,

If the reason is urgent you wont have a two year wait, has your GP considered referral to Mayo, they have two full time consultants now

If not medically urgent but important to you ad you dont want to wait for public appointment yes private ortho may be way to go BUT

1. No guarantee wait will be shorter
2. fee may be 150-250 for first appointment
3. Could sports medicine specialist help (shorter waiting time and may be as skilled in non operative musculoskeletal medicine)

blipp

I went to one last April and it was €150. I would have got more out of my money if I had just set fire to it but well he got it instead.

galwaygirl08

Cheers for replies. I figured it would be around the 200 mark alrite. In reply to the previous post, thats what i'm afraid of also-that it will be money wasted, but if i cant put my faith in a specialist then who can i trust eh. I have been to an osteopath, whom was worth every penny, he was totally on the ball and gave me his valued opinion.. But at the end of the day he couldnt do any more for me. After 3 sessions i was none the better and he advised i get it seen to in the hospital. Cracking up with the pain at this stage

Dr Galen

well the guys are right that'll set you back about 200 for the initial appt but if you have no health insurance then you'll have to pay for everything yourself which means blood tests, x-rays, CT scans and the rest. as well as that if you need to have any sort of surgical procedure done, you'll have to pay for that too, depending on the type etc that can cost a fair whack. Only option there is to go private for all the diagnosis etc and pay for that and then if surgery is needed then you can go on the public waiting list.

are you sure that the waiting list over there is 2 years?

RobFowl

Mystik Monkey wrote: »

well the guys are right that'll set you back about 200 for the initial appt but if you have no health insurance then you'll have to pay for everything yourself which means blood tests, x-rays, CT scans and the rest. as well as that if you need to have any sort of surgical procedure done, you'll have to pay for that too, depending on the type etc that can cost a fair whack. Only option there is to go private for all the diagnosis etc and pay for that and then if surgery is needed then you can go on the public waiting list.

are you sure that the waiting list over there is 2 years?

I can well beieve it is . Certainly in Beaumont the routine waiting list for orthopaedics is 2 years +
http://www.beaumont.ie/clinics/opd%20waiting%20list%201.pdf

In terms of cost expect 150-250. It's also very difficult to switch from the private to the oublic system , involves going back to the start more often than not.

Traumadoc

RobFowl wrote: »

I can well beieve it is . Certainly in Beaumont the routine waiting list for orthopaedics is 2 years +
http://www.beaumont.ie/clinics/opd%20waiting%20list%201.pdf

.

Those times are truly shocking.

RobFowl

Traumadoc wrote: »

Those times are truly shocking.

If you think those are bad, look at the ENT ones !!

AmcD

It is a bit of pot-luck when it comes to orthopaedic public outpatient waiting lists. Local to me in Blanchardstown Hospital I think the waiting list is only about 2-3 months. Compare that to their dermatology service- they laugh at us, send back the referral and say minimum 2 years.

galwaygirl08

Our health system is a joke full stop. It scares me to think that in this day and age its the way it is.
I was told by my doc i could be waiting anything from 6 months to 2 years (public option). Thats a big no no.
So i have no choice but to go private.
Luckily i've had x-rays done already which showed up clear, they cost nothing as i was referred by my doctor.
I've had ct scan done last year and my bloods were checked recently. That narrows some of the costs hopefully.
So heres to me praying that he will be a genius of a man and find out whats causing the pain.

etab

Hi,
Seems like have to bite the private bullet if want to get seen.
Does anyone know how to make the move from public to private, I have been refered from a public consultant to another consultant but haven't heard anything after 2 months. Is there a list that I can look up his name to see if hes private too, or do I need go to my gp to get a referal for a private consulatation?

drzhivago

etab wrote: »

Hi,
Seems like have to bite the private bullet if want to get seen.
Does anyone know how to make the move from public to private, I have been refered from a public consultant to another consultant but haven't heard anything after 2 months. Is there a list that I can look up his name to see if hes private too, or do I need go to my gp to get a referal for a private consulatation?

your GP needs to refer you

etab

Yeah, have the referal, but guy refered to is 3 months plus waiting time.:eek:

RobFowl

etab wrote: »

Yeah, have the referal, but guy refered to is 3 months plus waiting time.:eek:

Bottom line in our system is that he who makes the most noise gets seen sooner.
Phone the consultants secretary as often as you can. Say you are available for last minute cancellations and if the condition is serious get your GP to write a further letter to try to speed things up ...

drzhivago

etab wrote: »

Yeah, have the referal, but guy refered to is 3 months plus waiting time.:eek:

There are many private consultants recently set up who wouldnt have that long a waiting list

Ask your GP to look at orthos in
Beacon Clinic
Galway Clinic
Whitfield Clinic
Hermitage Clinic
Aut Even Kilkenny

Dont just wait for one, see which suits your complaint and can see you sooner

Skittlers

RobFowl wrote: »

Bottom line in our system is that he who makes the most noise gets seen sooner.
Phone the consultants secretary as often as you can. Say you are available for last minute cancellations and if the condition is serious get your GP to write a further letter to try to speed things up ...

Yes i found that way to be best..Talk nicely to the consultants secretary..Ring a few times tell her you are in a lot of pain and the waiting
is getting you down..She wil advise you to send another letter from your doctor so ring her after that and ask if she recieved it..Talk nice an try get friendly with her..It worked for me...nothing to loose at this stage..
Its worth a try..

etab

Cheers, ended up going through Sports Injury Clinic in Santry, seems like the same consultants work from a number of clinic. Earliest I got was start of December, so less than one month waiting time, which is pretty good.

Ihaveanopinion

One thing you might want to consider.....

if you are going to see an orthopaedic surgeon, I am guessing you may have a condition that might require an operation. If you are going to pay for your private appointment, will you pay for the operation out of your pocket if you require it?

If not and you want to go publicly, you will need to be referred to a public clinic. You can't skip the queue

DubMedic

Do you know the difference between a rhinoceros and an orthopedic surgeon?

One is thick skinned, has a small brain and charges a lot for no reason.

the other is a rhinoceros.

.

etab

Yeah, have Quinn health so going to get operation done privately, thankfully, if end up going down that route. Have a problem with shoulder which likes dislocating.

Fidge13

in my experiences of consultants recently, i've paid between €150 and €180 a pop. Waiting times havent been great, but i think a month to two months is about standard.