Cheap and good GP

okgnew

Can anyone recommend a cheap but good GP in North Dublin?
I find it ridiculous to pay 60 euro for a 5 mins visit (especially in the current econimic crisis).

kelle

Would Trim be too far for you to travel? Dr.Doyle charges e45.

okgnew

I'm afraid that Trim is too far for me.
Actually I found a Latvian Clinic in Clontarf - www.sveikaszmogus.ie
I rang them and they said that they charge only 40 euro for a GP visit.
I'm gonna try them tomorrow.

ergo

another thread on GP charges

have a read through this one if you get a chance, it's just 5 pages

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055401132&highlight=doctors+charges


and my rant/contribution is here (on the 4th page I think):

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=57662047&postcount=48

holly1

There is going to be a lot of sick people who will get a whole lot sicker from now on.I know I should be going back to my GP soon for a check up and blood tests but it will cost me 50euro for first visit and 10euro for blood tests,so they will haveto wait.

Dr Galen

thats a whole other can of worms then isn't it?

Isn't your health worth the cost?


I'm asking that more as a rhetorical question, not getting at anyone in particular

kelle

Mystik Monkey wrote: »

thats a whole other can of worms then isn't it?

Isn't your health worth the cost?


I'm asking that more as a rhetorical question, not getting at anyone in particular

I have 3 children, and it can really add up at certain times of the year. I usually have a lot of receipts to add up for medical tax rebate at the end of the year. I'm down e90 per week after this b****d Budget, so I'll be definitely thinking twice before going to the doctor.

Dr Galen

thats what I'm afraid will happen. TBH who can blame people in one sense, when they have to fork out for the GP. I'd just be concerned that now things will go unheeded or unchecked, purely because people will not/cannot pay the fee.

In your case Kelle with 3 kids, it can be even worse, what with ear-aches, chesty things etc etc.

drzhivago

kelle wrote: »

I have 3 children, and it can really add up at certain times of the year. I usually have a lot of receipts to add up for medical tax rebate at the end of the year. I'm down e90 per week after this b****d Budget, so I'll be definitely thinking twice before going to the doctor.

GPs are reasonable people
Go in for a chat with the business manager of the practice to explain circumstances and see if you can get an arrangemnt with them

As a kid my parents had VHI, mother was sick quite a bit, 3 boys, lots of falls, fractures etc. we didnt pay per visit to the GP, she had an account and timed it with GP so she would pay 2-3 weeks prior to years end for the VHI policy, that way she could immediately submit all receipts to VHI to claim back what she could and meant the money was out of our bank account for the shortest time possible

Another option for you at the moment would be to look at the VHI/QUINN out patient policies for families, yes its an added cost but may have benefit to reduce your spend overall.

If you do as I explained above show policy to business manager, explain to them they may well say yes we will not expect payment for each visit but towards end of your policy, time this right and then what you do not get back from your out patient policy becomes what you put in a claim for on your MED 1 form for tax for the year and that is the cheapest way to get things done.

You should sit down and find out from GP practice how many visits you have had in each of last 3 years for you and kids
look at what the costs have been and what you have recovered from MED1 (you can go back a number of years on this if you havent already done so)

Now get a scheule from VHI/QUINN/Hibernian regarding their outpatient policy and see which comes closest to matching your needs

To be honest with 3 kids you dont need the typical VHI B C or D even as your expenses will be outpatient mainly and if kids need emergency treatment they are best in public childrens hospital than in a private with few other kids and which does only a small amount of kiddie surgery

You will find that it is not as expensive as you think all told

AmcD

OP- you didn't say which part of North Dublin you are based in. Rather than going by price, you should maybe check out the practices near to you. If you are wiped out with tonsillitis, the last thing you need is to travel from Howth to Blanchardstown, just to save €5.
Also make sure you are happy with the opening hours. Different surgeries can have very different opening hours. It is handy if the practice offers appointments after 5pm so you have a chance of dropping in after work.
Different surgeries offer different services- is it important to you that there is a travel vaccine service/specialised family planning/........methadone clinic?
It would be no harm to walk into local surgeries, get a feel for the place and ask is there a practice leaflet. You might be able to get feedback on what the GPs are like from neighbours, or even the public health nurse.
I think it is more useful to find a GP you like. If you are a young healthy person, you are unlikely to be visiting that often, so a price difference may not add up to that much.

RobFowl

OP look at the tirle of this thread !!
Cheap and good do not always go well together :rolleyes: