Waiting times for MRI?

roseagra

Anyone have an idea what the waiting times are for an MRI these days? Or where you might find out?

thanks

byhookorbycrook

Depends what part of the country you are in and if you have health insurance.

ChewChew

even if you don't have insurance, ring around a few places.. you should get an appointment within 2-3 weeks. All you'll need is your gp letter

gagiteebo

With a letter from my GP it took around 5/6 weeks to get one. I don't have health insurance. Things move pretty slowly in the public system :pac:

roseagra

GP has put letter together already stating that I can't currently walk due to the injury, in Limerick and no insurance.

cltt97

5/6 weeks is pretty good! I remember a few years back they more or less indicated to me I'd be waiting several months, so went and paid for it (at least then the revenue still paid back the higher tax on medical expenses). I totally feel for you, just going through a bit of a dodgy back myself. I've recommended them in another post already, but euromedic.ie are very reasonable if you have to pay yourself, the closest to you would be in Cork, might not be handy, but one does pretty much anything when desperate... Good luck, I hope you'll feel better soon!
Only other option is to ring the X-ray departments in the public hospitals and ask them how soon you'd be able to get an appointment

hdowney

i had to go in as an inpatient to get an mri!!! seriously (now first i ain't on health ins) i was waiting over six mths for an mri and the doc said you could be waiting the same again or more. but if we bring you in as an inpatient you will get seen quicker cos you are taking up a bed. three days in as an inpatient i got sent to the blackrock clinic for my mri!

byhookorbycrook

Roseagra, I had some done in Barringtons, give them a ring.

roseagra

Got an Xray with Barringtons last week, €65 is grand but I'm a student and am currently missing out on p/t job because of the injury....so paying for the MRI isn't really an option.

Hoping when I meet the physio next week might have a better idea of whats going wrong....and might have an idea of when I'll be back on my feet!

Should I wait to hear from the GP re: the MRI or will I call round to ask? She sent the letter herself but I didn't think to ask what the procedure was....

thanks

cltt97

I would ring the GP and find out where did she send the letter and then ring up the hospital and double check did they receive the referral and how long would it be, and if it takes too long ring up other places and ask for waiting time. And just in case this still doesn't work out for you, Euromedic is 195 for students, so it's not that mad, considering they used to be 600 Euro at some stage.

roseagra

Thanks, sounds like a good plan. €195 is ok but just don't have the money for that now.

neelyohara

In November last I went to St Vincents and was referred for an MRI. I still haven't got an appointment. At this stage I'm just waiting for it to come through so that I can reply and cancel it.

I am lucky, I had insurance and VHI covered 100% of the cost of getting an MRI with Euromedic (which oddly enough took place on a SUNDAY) and the appointment came through within days.

I'd considered canceling my insurance as I'm stretched to pay for it... but in instances like this I'm glad I didn't. Just getting that one MRI paid for was worth more than my entire years premiums.

user1842

neelyohara wrote: »

In November last I went to St Vincents and was referred for an MRI. I still haven't got an appointment. At this stage I'm just waiting for it to come through so that I can reply and cancel it.

I am lucky, I had insurance and VHI covered 100% of the cost of getting an MRI with Euromedic (which oddly enough took place on a SUNDAY) and the appointment came through within days.

I'd considered canceling my insurance as I'm stretched to pay for it... but in instances like this I'm glad I didn't. Just getting that one MRI paid for was worth more than my entire years premiums.

Its unreal how quick you can get a MRI when you have insurance. Did my cruciate in two years ago and I got the scan the next day. Was told if I was on the public system, it would talk 8 months to 2 years.

neelyohara

dmclean1842 wrote: »

Its unreal how quick you can get a MRI when you have insurance. Did my cruciate in two years ago and I got the scan the next day. Was told if I was on the public system, it would talk 8 months to 2 years.

I was asked to stay overnight in Vincent's and I'd get the MRI the next day. At this stage it was the early hours of the morning, I didn't have my phone with me to call work, I'd a passenger to drive home, etc. I was told that if I wanted to I could go home and they would refer me & I'd get an appointment in the post. I thought 'Perfect...'. How friggin stupid!

Afterwards I was told by several medics that I could be looking at at least a years waiting period.

It's absolutely disgusting. What if I had a serious illness? I was having the MRI to rule out a tumour because I was so ill. As far as the HSE are aware I'm still sitting here, ill, waiting to see if I have a tumour. It's madness.

Plus I was freaking out a little at not having the money to pay for a scan. Then I found out VHI would cover 100% of the cost which I can't believe! I called them twice to verify this, not only that but they had an 'agreement' with the clinic and they would pay them directly. I didn't have to pay a cent!

Honestly, you wouldn't have wanted to be around me at that time. The injustice of the system made me launch into rants on anyone who asked how I was!

user1842

neelyohara wrote: »

I was asked to stay overnight in Vincent's and I'd get the MRI the next day. At this stage it was the early hours of the morning, I didn't have my phone with me to call work, I'd a passenger to drive home, etc. I was told that if I wanted to I could go home and they would refer me & I'd get an appointment in the post. I thought 'Perfect...'. How friggin stupid!

Afterwards I was told by several medics that I could be looking at at least a years waiting period.

It's absolutely disgusting. What if I had a serious illness? I was having the MRI to rule out a tumour because I was so ill. As far as the HSE are aware I'm still sitting here, ill, waiting to see if I have a tumour. It's madness.

Plus I was freaking out a little at not having the money to pay for a scan. Then I found out VHI would cover 100% of the cost which I can't believe! I called them twice to verify this, not only that but they had an 'agreement' with the clinic and they would pay them directly. I didn't have to pay a cent!

Honestly, you wouldn't have wanted to be around me at that time. The injustice of the system made me launch into rants on anyone who asked how I was!

My god you didnt know VHI would cover the scan? You must have been freaking out. One think about the Irish health system is that you need to find out everything yourself, there is very little help.

byhookorbycrook

VHI is bit of a minefield for a first MRI, loads of terms and conditions with my first,never a problem since.

rebel girl 15

I had mine within a fortnight of being referred, have health insurance. I'm surprised people don't know that MRI's can be covered by their health insurance, only caveat with that is that certain insurers might have agreements with certain scan centres, so check that out before you go - but more than likely your GP or specialist will know it before referring you to a certain place

MASTER...of the bra

If anyone has a Medical card and is just after getting a referal, there is more than a 30 month waiting list now:eek:. They really let you linger. They spend the price of god knows how many MRIs giving people pain killers and the like rather than giving appointments.

Euromedic.ie seems to be the place to go.

liger

I was in an accident in oct. Have no ins. Done xrays but hospital said an mri would be better for showing damage and they would post out an appointment. 2 weeks later i still hadnt heard anything so rang the hospital and they told me the date was end of feb 2012. Paid to get it done private but a couple of days ago i got a call saying they are clearing the backlog and could i attend this sunday. So somebody is working to fix it. And just after harney left! Cowinkydink?

hdowney

i have a medical card but was looking into health insurance, as i am sick of sitting there for 2+ yrs waiting like.

couple things i wasn't to thrilled about with the health insurance. the wait period of 6mth! like i have to pay yall for health insurance for 6mth but i canni use it?!? wtf tbh

and then the 5yr waiting period for pre-existing conditions. the wording is different depending on which provider u are looking at so what exactly is a pre-existing condition. like is it summat you have been diagnosed with before you get health ins - which would make sense to me, or is it something you have, regardless of diagnosis r not, before you get health ins?

tis a minefield in itself

cltt97

Well, basically if you have a backproblem and need an MRI, this is a pre-existing condition. Basically anything that is already wrong with you and requires attention would fall within this category. Otherwise people would only ever get private health insurance when they need it, so it kinda makes sense.

rabjoshu

I was involved in a traffic incident a few months back and have a tender knee. The x-ray shows nothing. I'm able to use my knee but not without sporadic pain. My GP only suggests some physio but I have a strong feeling there is something else in there. How do I get an MRI scan?
I'm a medical card holder, no private insurance.