240 euro for a consultation.

Oafley Jones

That's what a neurologist is charging my girlfriend. It's an obscene price to be charging in this, or any, environment. It's not as if you have a choice. Disgusted.

ejmaztec

Appalling, and it's never going to change.

People should start charging consultants 10 times the going rate for everything and anything.

davo10

OP you are not required to pay this. Your girlfriend would be seen as a public patient for free.

thebullkf

davo10 wrote: »

OP you are not required to pay this. Your girlfriend would be seen as a public patient for free.

when though?

Consultants= deep pockets

themadchef

Ya see, it's a crazy situation in Ireland. I was a private patient with a neurologist in dublin but the journey was a killer from the West. She was excellent, pricey, but excellent. To put it in perspective it took 9 months to get a private appointment with her.

I requested a transfer through my GP to Galway, expected a delay of course.... the delay was almost two and a half years as the Galway consultant does not see patients privately. No more €200 fee though, but a hell of a wait.

People will pay any money to get better. You know it, they know it. Enough is enough.

davo10

thebullkf wrote: »

when though?

Consultants= deep pockets

You hit the nail on the head thebullkf, when you go private you are paying to skip the waiting list and be seen immedietly, and for that you have to pay a premium. This is the same in every country in the world. But the OP does have a choice of waiting on the list and therefore obtain the same consultation for free.

Hal Emmerich

Oafley Jones wrote: »

That's what a neurologist is charging my girlfriend. It's an obscene price to be charging in this, or any, environment. It's not as if you have a choice. Disgusted.

If you'd went up the North you could have saved €140-160.

A nice bit of lobbying and weak scumbag politicians and what do you get....^^^

The numbers of Consultants/Doctors in Ireland is kept artifically low (only so many...it was 30ish can go forward every year and no Foreign Docs can set up Practice here...unless this has changed recently) so this shower of silver spoon ***** can stay in the Luxury they have grown accustomed.

Sons and Daughters of previous Consultants/Solicitors still take over 3/4 of Jobs. I can't be arsed looking for the article on it.

Another Thread on it. Skip davo10 posts, he thinks €250 for 5mins is great value altogether.

davo10

Hal Emmerich wrote: »

If you'd went up the North you could have saved €140-160.

A nice bit of lobbying and weak scumbag politicians and what do you get....^^^

The numbers of Consultants/Doctors in Ireland is kept artifically low (only so many...it was 30ish can go forward every year and no Foreign Docs can set up Practice here...unless this has changed recently) so this shower of silver spoon ***** can stay in the Luxury they have grown accustomed.

Sons and Daughters of previous Consultants/Solicitors still take over 3/4 of Jobs. I can't be arsed looking for the article on it.

Another Thread on it. Skip davo10 posts, he thinks €250 for 5mins is great value altogether.

This is absolutely incorrect.

Any consultant with the requisite qualifications can apply for registration in Ireland, without prejudice. They must have passed consultancy exams and training in line with what is required of a consultant here. They must also speak english.

Provide proof of your post there is a policy to keep consultant levels low. Also provide link to article relating to the sons and daughters being given preference. Your post is without a shred of evidence and is complete and utter rubbish.

Again my point is that the consultation is free through the public health system and the last time I checked, you could not get better value than free. I do not think €250 is good value, nor do I think you are aware of the time taken to be a neurologist, the costs on a brain surgeon's indemnity insurance, the cost of having a clinic in a private hospital etc. Hal, for arguments sake, if the profit on the €250 was €50, would you think that is excessive?. If you are going to post BS, back it up.

Nanazolie

Sometimes, delays kill. Or make you so sick it takes ages to recover while caught in time the illness can be cured swiftly (and for cheaper). If you decide to bypass the waiting list, it can be because you are can't afford to wait.

I've seen a few consultants, some I didn't complain about the price because I had chosen to pay for my comfort (eg the dermatologist for eczema). Some, I had no choice. I decided to fly abroad to bring my daughter to see an eye specialist, the flight and consultation cost me less than seeing a private consultant here. The waiting list to go public here was over 9 months. She had pus oozing out of her eyes constantly, my GP was an ignorant bit*h and kept giving her eye drops (while charging me full price for each consultation) when what she really needed was an operation. Had I waited the 9 months, her eyes wouldn't have healed as well and the chances of success for the operation would have been reduced by 50%.
Once I was armed with the letter from the French eye specialist, it seemed to open all doors, she had the operation done in a public hospital at no cost

Anyway, back to OP. If your girlfriend went private she knew that it would cost her a lot. She can claim some back from her insurance, and if the consultant finds that there is something seriously wrong he might send her for treatment in a public hospital so she will only have to pay for the initial consultation. Granted, the price is outragous, although you could argue that the consultant only charges what people are willing to pay to skip the queues :mad:

Skopzz

Oafley Jones wrote: »

That's what a neurologist is charging my girlfriend. It's an obscene price to be charging in this, or any, environment. It's not as if you have a choice. Disgusted.

It would help if we knew his/her name...

maxer68

Oafley Jones wrote: »

That's what a neurologist is charging my girlfriend. It's an obscene price to be charging in this, or any, environment. It's not as if you have a choice. Disgusted.

I love these types of "rip-offs"

Using this, Joe Duffy gets paid €300,000+ for 75minutes work per day. - So don't be calling him about it. - And he doesn't have rooms / staff / insurance to pay.

Guess what - the consultant hasn't walked in after the leaving cert and said I'll take €240.

Years of study, years of experience, his/her consulting rooms, insurance (huge) and the fact that you could very quickly be told whether or not you have a serious condition.

Add to this the report the consultant draws up and the conclusions that will ensure your heath.

€240 - its a snip

Nanazolie

maxer68 wrote: »

Guess what - the consultant hasn't walked in after the leaving cert and said I'll take €240.

Years of study, years of experience, his/her consulting rooms, insurance (huge) and the fact that you could very quickly be told whether or not you have a serious condition.

Add to this the report the consultant draws up and the conclusions that will ensure your heath.

€240 - its a snip

All you are saying makes sense, but even when taking into account higher rents, higher insurance fees, etc... the price of consultants here is far dearer than most european countries. And the years of studies are the same than here.
The sad reality is that consultants prices feed on the fear and uncomfort of the patients who can't face waiting list of up to 18 months. Can you imagine being covered in painful blisters and being told that to see a dermatologist in the hospital, you'll have to wait another 18 months? Yes, it's not life threatening, but still, it would be enough to cough up a few hundred euros. The prices don't seem to be regulated, I've seen huge differences in fees, not even justified by a particular location or state of the art treatment that no one else offers. No, it seems to be purely based on the consultant assessment of what their clients will be willing to pay to alleviate the pain. It's very, very remote to the ethos of medecine.

chimmy chonga

maxer68 wrote: »

I love these types of "rip-offs"

Using this, Joe Duffy gets paid €300,000+ for 75minutes work per day. - So don't be calling him about it. - And he doesn't have rooms / staff / insurance to pay.

Guess what - the consultant hasn't walked in after the leaving cert and said I'll take €240.

Years of study, years of experience, his/her consulting rooms, insurance (huge) and the fact that you could very quickly be told whether or not you have a serious condition.

Add to this the report the consultant draws up and the conclusions that will ensure your heath.

€240 - its a snip

I worked in Tunisia for a few months and in the local hospital there are consultants waiting to see you, no appointment necessary. First class hospital too.

maxer68

chimmy chonga wrote: »

I worked in Tunisia for a few months and in the local hospital there are consultants waiting to see you, no appointment necessary. First class hospital too.

Same can be said for Cuba - but they're both different countries with different tax systems and different standards of life.
Neither Tunisia nor Cuba would be my idea of a decent life.

Nothing in the world is free - its paid for somehow.

juuge

maxer68 wrote: »

Same can be said for Cuba - but they're both different countries with different tax systems and different standards of life.
Neither Tunisia nor Cuba would be my idea of a decent life.

Nothing in the world is free - its paid for somehow.

Maybe they should all come and live in Ireland then!

Fighting Irish

Nanazolie wrote: »

All you are saying makes sense, but even when taking into account higher rents, higher insurance fees, etc... the price of consultants here is far dearer than most european countries. And the years of studies are the same than here.
The sad reality is that consultants prices feed on the fear and uncomfort of the patients who can't face waiting list of up to 18 months. Can you imagine being covered in painful blisters and being told that to see a dermatologist in the hospital, you'll have to wait another 18 months? Yes, it's not life threatening, but still, it would be enough to cough up a few hundred euros. The prices don't seem to be regulated, I've seen huge differences in fees, not even justified by a particular location or state of the art treatment that no one else offers. No, it seems to be purely based on the consultant assessment of what their clients will be willing to pay to alleviate the pain. It's very, very remote to the ethos of medecine.

So is our minimum wage

Nanazolie

Fighting Irish wrote: »

So is our minimum wage

When I started working in Dublin, there was no minimum wage. I was paid less than 4 pounds an hour and still a visit to the GP would cost 40 pounds.

Nanazolie

And roll on this concept:

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/health/2011/1115/1224307574613.html

Fighting Irish

Nanazolie wrote: »

When I started working in Dublin, there was no minimum wage. I was paid less than 4 pounds an hour and still a visit to the GP would cost 40 pounds.

Different times and GPs are diff than consultants

thegoodgirl

When I got no answers from the public consultants my GP recommended that I go private to see a nuerologist. I got the first appointment within a month.
The first consultation was €250 and I was in with him for 45-50 mins. He did a full neuro exam and talked me through what he thought was wrong and what tests he was sending me for. I went private for all the tests as my health insurance covered this and was back to him within 6 weeks for a diagnosis. This consultation was €150 and lasted about 35 mins as he discussed his findings and then he went through all the different types of tablets I could take. He didnt just tell me what one he recommeded he went through each one and the pros and cons of each.
I go back to see him now every 6-12 months and the price varies depending on how long I am with him. usually €100-150.
But I really didn't mind the cost as I had waited 5 years for a diagnosis. And I got 20% tax back on the fees too.

Fighting Irish

My first consult was 240, i now have to go back every 6 months and it costs 140 per visit

Nanazolie

In fairness to public consultants, they can only do with 24 hours a day. We blame private consultants for overcharging, but again, they only charge what people are willing to pay to skip the queues.
My GP reffered our little one for a chest X ray. I called yesterday because I had not heard from the hospital 2 months after the letter was sent out, they advised me that they need to prioritize urgent cases. I am fully aware that these cases are young children who might die if they are not looked after urgently, so my child can wait. Still, I know that if the situation doesn't improve, I'll have to borrow some money and see a private consultant, but I certainly won't blame the public service, they have to look after the sicker ones first. And I'm aware that a private consultant will assess my willingness to end my child discomfort and will charge me in consequence

trishasaffron

Pubic/private - skipping queues etc etc....These are real issues but in this context are a distraction from the valid and real issue of ridiculously high consuultant fees. Just paid 280 euro for 1st consultation......it was 15 mins - not as bad as the gangster in the blackrock clinic who had me wait 40mins (while he got his own personal scan done!), gave me 5 mns of his time and charged 250 euro.

Medics and insiders who take these complaints personally and respond with a lot of comparative data about other countries are not being fair to those of us with little medical knowledge, no idea how the system works and little money.

I'm always being advised to "negotiate" on fees......yes that's really helpful when I'm sick and clueless about the system:(

codie

Wouldn't agree with you there Nanazolie in relation that they charge what people are willing to pay to skip Qs.Thats a ridiculous statement.
I pay VHI cause The HSE is so diabolical,like many I dont want to go on a waiting list for months and possible years if anything happens me or my family.Why the HSE is so diabolical is another days work
I went to a consultant lately ,I had 3 oclock appt.Was seen at 4.15 for less than 5 mins and was charged €150.But I don't blame the consultant as regards the fee.
I blame the Bertie years when the whole country lost the run of themselves in a whirlwind of madness.

davo10

Nanazolie wrote: »

And roll on this concept:

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/health/2011/1115/1224307574613.html

nanazolie, like all insurance (which this is a type) policies this is good value if you need to avail of it and bad value if you don't. If you only go once a year to the Doctor it costs you €180 or €360 for a family which is a very expensive visit. If you go often it is good value. In the end, like all insurance the people to do not claim/use it subsidise the people who do and the insurer still gets paid.

Fishtits

Hopefully the Troika will sort all this out. They seem to have honed in on professional gouging as a condition.

The problem is that its multi layered - ie the people that supply equipment to these guys charge huge margins knowing the cash is forthcoming etc.

Edit, must confess that I have family members as GP and a Prof of medicine so I get to hear both sides. Insurance is a huge cost BTW.

Nanazolie

davo10 wrote: »

nanazolie, like all insurance (which this is a type) policies this is good value if you need to avail of it and bad value if you don't. If you only go once a year to the Doctor it costs you €180 or €360 for a family which is a very expensive visit. If you go often it is good value. In the end, like all insurance the people to do not claim/use it subsidise the people who do and the insurer still gets paid.

With 2 kids, I'd be surprised if I don't go at least 5 times during the year. One has respiratory problems and I have to go myself at least twice for prescriptions. The thing is, most people put off visits to their GPs until something is very wrong, and they will end up spending more than if they went to check, for instance, "that nagging thing", which could eventually be something serious. Prevention should be key and it should prove cheaper than remedial treatment