Health Check worth it?

ceoltoir

After a gruelling mountain walk recently, I've decided to go for a complete check-up. I'm 49 years old.

'Health Check' in the Mater Private looks good, but, at €500, is it worth it? Has anyone done this?

djtechnics1210

Thinking about getting it done myself, but like you i'm wondering is it worth the price.

I suppose when it comes to health though, better off spending the extra money to make sure everything is all in order

ceoltoir

Think you could be right djtechnics1210. It's a comparatively small amount when compared with the value of good health. I've seen too many people suffer in their old age from preventible ailments.

Dr Galen

what do you get for your 500 notes? is there anything special?

anyone remember the episode of Scrubs where they are doing a similar thing?

ceoltoir

It seems pretty comprehensive, at least to a non-medic like myselt

http://www.materprivate.ie/services/specialities/healthcheck/malescreening.htm

It's supposed to last for about three hours.

Dr Galen

well to be honest I'm not convinced by it. there isn't anything on their description that a GP couldn't do for a lot less. I'd suggest contacting your local GP and talking through with them getting a full NCT, so to speak. Looks to me that, in the Mater, they take a load of blood, do a full physical exam and get a full history from you. Not exactly high tech.

Has anyone heard of anyone going for this? Or any experiences?

sam34

totally not worth it, imo.

a gp could do all of those tests for a much smaller cost.

trout

Seems like a lot of money to me, I know your health is priceless ... but still.

I'd be of the opinion your GP will be able to advise you just as well, if not better (by virtue of knowing your medical history) and cheaper. They will also be able to help you with any after care, monitoring or follow on work, if required.

If there are indications that further tests are required, you can be referred further to specialists.

I'm not knocking the idea of the private health checks at all, I just think it's a lot of money for a one-off service; my own preference would be to have a longer term relationship with a GP.

It would be good to hear from people who have experience of private check-ups, but let's be careful not to name individual practitioners & be sensible with the replies

RolfHarris

My doctor's surgery offers something similar for €60. a session with the nurse, including blood and urine tests, and an appointment with the doctor himself for blood pressure etc etc.

djtechnics1210

RolfHarris wrote: »

My doctor's surgery offers something similar for €60. a session with the nurse,

Is she good looking

RolfHarris

She's great til she gets the rubber glove on..

c_o_ck p_i_ss chillage

ceoltoir wrote: »

After a gruelling mountain walk recently, I've decided to go for a complete check-up. I'm 49 years old.

'Health Check' in the Mater Private looks good, but, at €500, is it worth it? Has anyone done this?

Maybe run a print-out of what the Mater does and bring it into the doc. Ask them what they can and can't do and ask if it's worth it to go to the Mater. Most docs are cool and will give you an honest answer. Also another thing I do is get your money's worth when your at the doc for whatever. Get blood pressure, cholestrol etc not just some anti-biotics and go to the nearest pharmacy ;-)
I get a check up every year inc bloods for €60 and its nice to know I'm in good shape.

P

smk89

I always said I'd start getting check ups when I'm in my 25. Not looking forward to it. Luck I'm with the NHS. €500 seems like alot.

ceoltoir

Thanks for the input everyone. I think I'll go to my GP first and take it from there.

ceoltoir

On second thoughts, my GP, while she's very good, is always busy and in somewhat of a rush. Three hours' attention in the Mater seems better value for money than a hurried half hour in the GP's surgery. What do you think?

DrIndy

Start with your GP anyway - they will refer you for more and if you are wiling to go private to get the extras - you will only pay for those components and be able to get them really fast (possibly the next day) without the enormous full charge.

Maybe you only need a few minutes with your GP to get all this done rather than 3 hours?

These "health Checks" are designed for the worried well, rather than the "annual check up guy". Its for the overly worried person rather than the laid-back "Its good to know I'm healthy person" who goes to their GP.

They may do more but charge significantly more for the same thing.

If you call ahead to the GP and say you want to come in for a full health screen (rather than just say you want an appointment) - they normally allocate extra time for you - as I got when I got my australian visa health check. If they can plan for this, then you're visit will not be rushed.

ceoltoir

Thanks DrIndy. You've convinced me to go to my GP first. I'd be more the laid-back type, going to the doctor once in every three or four years, when something goes wrong.

AmcD

Just another small point about these expensive "worried well" health screenings. As a GP I have often been on the receiving end of these printouts. For all the money spent, the outcome is always the same: go and discuss these very minor blood test abnormalities with your own GP. I think it is a bit of a copout. I feel that if somebody is charged this much for tests, they should be completely dealt with by the screening company.

Johnny Utah

I availed of the health check-up in the Mater recently, and I have to say that it wasn't worth the expense. I thought that by paying extra I would be getting a better service, and a more comprehensive health check-up, but the truth is (as others have already pointed out) that your GP can provide the same check-up for a fraction of the cost.

I was there for approximately 2 and a half hours, and most of that time was spent waiting around.

Also, they didn't provide all of the tests listed, and I only discovered this on the day of the check-up, yet still charged the full fee. :mad:





Go to your GP.