MRI scan value in Galway.

subscriber

Hello folks, I have a major exacerbation of pain in my lumber spine for the last ten days and have been pretty much bed riddin for the past three. I was through A and E last week and after an xray was told to feck off home and take pain meds.

This is the second major exacerbation of this pain in the past 18 months. Last time I was out of action for upwards of 6 weeks with it. Unfortunately as I am a medical card holder and do not have medical insurance, the GP`s cannot refer me (public patient) for an MRI scan, although the GP did say today, it would rule a lot of things out or in were I to have one. Apparently the only way to get an MRI, is to be referred to a consultant and then for him to make the decision, which we all know in this country, could take up to a year or even longer.

I could possibly gather the money to pay privately and have today rang merlin park and the galway clinic, was quoted 195 and 295 respectively. The prices are high. Is there anywhere else i could avail of one at a more reasonable price either in Galway or or surrounding connaught counties does anyone know?

Thanks :mad:

Kristopherus

subscriber wrote: »

Hello folks, I have a major exacerbation of pain in my lumber spine for the last ten days and have been pretty much bed riddin for the past three. I was through A and E last week and after an xray was told to feck off home and take pain meds.

This is the second major exacerbation of this pain in the past 18 months. Last time I was out of action for upwards of 6 weeks with it. Unfortunately as I am a medical card holder and do not have medical insurance, the GP`s cannot refer me (public patient) for an MRI scan, although the GP did say today, it would rule a lot of things out or in were I to have one. Apparently the only way to get an MRI, is to be referred to a consultant and then for him to make the decision, which we all know in this country, could take up to a year or even longer.

I could possibly gather the money to pay privately and have today rang merlin park and the galway clinic, was quoted 195 and 295 respectively. The prices are high. Is there anywhere else i could avail of one at a more reasonable price either in Galway or or surrounding connaught counties does anyone know?

Thanks :mad:

Thank your lucky stars you have to pay only €195 or €295. Its only a few years ago that a MRI scan cost €630.And your GP is talking through his/her arse. A GP can refer a patient for a MRI scan in UCHG or Merlin Park. It will take longer than if you went private. If you do go private, then €195 will be the least of your worries. You will also have the Consultant's fee, then another fee from the Consultant Radiologist, etc., etc. Ask your GP to refer you as an urgent case. Thats what s/he is getting paid for.

juicet3rry

I paid less than €150 a few years ago to get one done in Ballinasloe. It was in a mobile unit on the grounds of the hospital at the time. My GP recommended it as I was waiting so long on the Public system

subscriber

Kristopherus wrote: »

Thank your lucky stars you have to pay only €195 or €295. Its only a few years ago that a MRI scan cost €630.And your GP is talking through his/her arse. A GP can refer a patient for a MRI scan in UCHG or Merlin Park. It will take longer than if you went private. If you do go private, then €195 will be the least of your worries. You will also have the Consultant's fee, then another fee from the Consultant Radiologist, etc., etc. Ask your GP to refer you as an urgent case. Thats what s/he is getting paid for.

Ummmm, she was fairly adamant that in order for me to get an MRI as a public patient that she would have to hand me over to a consultant and for him to make the decision. It`s strange as the last time i was at the GP with this same complaint 18 months ago (a different GP in the same practise), I did everything in my power to get him to refer me for an MRI and he absolutely blatantly refused every time. This went on for the course of five visits over three weeks. Is there something behind the curtain here that GP`s are not willing to do the work....?? I dunno

As regards the prices of going private for a scan, the prices I was quoted, the receptionist informed me that would include having the scan read and results being sent back to my GP included. That being said, im not quiet sure yet can i afford it.

Kristopherus

juicet3rry wrote: »

I paid less than €150 a few years ago to get one done in Ballinasloe. It was in a mobile unit on the grounds of the hospital at the time. My GP recommended it as I was waiting so long on the Public system

It that's there on a permanent basis, then the OP should make enquiries. Mind you, Ballinasloe is now part of the public health system.

Spook_ie

subscriber wrote: »

Ummmm, she was fairly adamant that in order for me to get an MRI as a public patient that she would have to hand me over to a consultant and for him to make the decision. It`s strange as the last time i was at the GP with this same complaint 18 months ago (a different GP in the same practise), I did everything in my power to get him to refer me for an MRI and he absolutely blatantly refused every time. This went on for the course of five visits over three weeks. Is there something behind the curtain here that GP`s are not willing to do the work....?? I dunno

As regards the prices of going private for a scan, the prices I was quoted, the receptionist informed me that would include having the scan read and results being sent back to my GP included. That being said, im not quiet sure yet can i afford it.

Subscriber, you are right, the 195/295 includes scan & results being sent to your GP, however, I think what the other poster meant was that if you have to go to see a Consultant privately, thats when it can become expensive. I think the MRI is the best way to go, so you will know exactly what you are dealing with.

juicet3rry

Kristopherus wrote: »

It that's there on a permanent basis, then the OP should make enquiries. Mind you, Ballinasloe is now part of the public health system.

Link below shows the details.

http://www.alliancemedical.ie/scan-centres/ballinasloe-co-galway

They may be a part of the public system but I believe the length of time you have to wait would still be measured in months/years as opposed to weeks.
If you have Private insurance you will be seen within a couple of weeks. I was 16 months waiting on the public system before I found out about this more affordable option. The Galway city hospitals quoted around €400 at the time, if memory serves me correctly

RubyGirl

Doc can of course refer you for mri. Got mine done in Ballinasloe aswell cause long wait in Galway.

subscriber

juicet3rry wrote: »

Link below shows the details.

http://www.alliancemedical.ie/scan-centres/ballinasloe-co-galway

They may be a part of the public system but I believe the length of time you have to wait would still be measured in months/years as opposed to weeks.
If you have Private insurance you will be seen within a couple of weeks. I was 16 months waiting on the public system before I found out about this more affordable option. The Galway city hospitals quoted around €400 at the time, if memory serves me correctly

Had made a mistake on my first post in this thread, merlin park is in fact 225. So far I have these prices:

Bons secours galway - 255
Merlin Park - 255
Galway Clinic - 295
Euromedic Sligo - 195
Portiuncula Ballinasloe - 195

So it looks like ballinasloe is the cheapest along side euromedic, but closer in proximity to my area in galway. I don`t think we have left out any other MRI centres.. ? 195 probably the best I am going to do. .