Private care - is this normal?

Toastytoes

Had originally posted in the May 2018 thread but might get more responses out here.

I’d be grateful if someone better informed that myself can tell me what’s normal when going private. Are you still treated under combined care ie. half your appointments are with your GP and not your consultant? I’m very confused by this as the citizens information website seems to indicate that combined care is something separate to private/semi private. It seems a bit much to be paying €3,400 for private care when you’re attending free gp visits half the time. Thanks.

Did anyone attend prof Morrison in Galway privately and was there an option of seeing him for all appointments or is the only option combined gp/consultant?

Beanybabog

No, I'm going private and was told by my GP and the consultants secretary that all visits are with the consultant

jlm29

Toastytoes wrote: »

Had originally posted in the May 2018 thread but might get more responses out here.

I’d be grateful if someone better informed that myself can tell me what’s normal when going private. Are you still treated under combined care ie. half your appointments are with your GP and not your consultant? I’m very confused by this as the citizens information website seems to indicate that combined care is something separate to private/semi private. It seems a bit much to be paying €3,400 for private care when you’re attending free gp visits half the time. Thanks.

Did anyone attend prof Morrison in Galway privately and was there an option of seeing him for all appointments or is the only option combined gp/consultant?

I went to my gp once in my last pregnancy, and that was to get him to refer me to the hospital. In fact I've had three babies, and I'd say I've probably gone to the gp five times in all three (and three of those would have been looking for referrals to the hospital).
It probably depends on the consultant though. My appointments were never more than 4-5 weeks apart, so there was no need to go to the gp in between. I do know other people who went to the gp for combined care as well as being private though.

Of note- I always signed up for combined care. It's handy to have it in case you do need to go to the gp for anything pregnancy related. I went to mine once in each of my first two pregnancies for a chest infection, and wasn't charged, though I think technically I should have been!

Toastytoes

jlm29 wrote: »

I went to my gp once in my last pregnancy, and that was to get him to refer me to the hospital. In fact I've had three babies, and I'd say I've probably gone to the gp five times in all three (and three of those would have been looking for referrals to the hospital).
It probably depends on the consultant though. My appointments were never more than 4-5 weeks apart, so there was no need to go to the gp in between. I do know other people who went to the gp for combined care as well as being private though.

Of note- I always signed up for combined care. It's handy to have it in case you do need to go to the gp for anything pregnancy related. I went to mine once in each of my first two pregnancies for a chest infection, and wasn't charged, though I think technically I should have been!

Thanks for responding, are you obliged to see your gp for some of your appointments if going private? I’m high risk and don’t want to just see a gp.

I thought the point of private was to get to see your consultant each time.

Sorry this is all new to me but only seeing consultant for half of the visit isn’t how going private is described one any of he information websites such as the national maternity Hospital, citizens info, eu mom etc.

Can I insist on seeing consultant instead?

Thanks.

Toastytoes

Beanybabog wrote: »

No, I'm going private and was told by my GP and the consultants secretary that all visits are with the consultant

Was this the automatic setup up or was there any discussion around it. Apparently I’d see consultant at 12 weeks but not again until 20 weeks. I’d see gp for an appointment in between. This is €3,400!

jlm29

Toastytoes wrote: »

Thanks for responding, are you obliged to see your gp for some of your appointments if going private? I’m high risk and don’t want to just see a gp.

I thought the point of private was to get to see your consultant each time.

Sorry this is all new to me but only seeing consultant for half of the visit isn’t how going private is described one any of he information websites such as the national maternity Hospital, citizens info, eu mom etc.

Can I insist on seeing consultant instead?

Thanks.

I doubt your obliged, but different consultants might have different systems, I don't know. As I say, I only went to my gp to be referred to the hospital initially. After that, it was all consultant care.
If I had some extra illness that wasn't really pregnancy related, that's the only time I went to my gp throughout my pregnancies.

If private, you'll only see the consultant in the hospital, you wont ever be seen by anyone else on their team.
I do, however know someone who had her babies in cumh, and she would have seen her gp a fair bit throughout her pregnancies

Toastytoes

It’s seems to be a lesser version of private but for the same price that’s on offer from consultants in Galway.

I’d be grateful if anyone has any experience with going private in Galway and could advise.

appledrop

I went private + did sign up for the combined care but choose to have all my appointments with my consultant. She just asked me did I want to go to gp sometimes or have all appointments with her. As others said very handy to have because if you have any worries during pregnancy you can just pop to your doctor if you need to + nearer than hospital if just something minor. From what I remember app at 8weeks, 12 weeks around 17 weeks then 21 weeks all with hospital. Then obviously more frequent as pregnancy progresses.

appledrop

I should have mentioned this was in Dublin hospital but I don't see why it should be any different in Galway. If your paying to go private then you should be able to see consultant all the way through especially if high risk. My consultant was very reasonable €2,500 + worth every penny.

Toastytoes

appledrop wrote: »

I went private + did sign up for the combined care but choose to have all my appointments with my consultant. She just asked me did I want to go to gp sometimes or have all appointments with her. As others said very handy to have because if you have any worries during pregnancy you can just pop to your doctor if you need to + nearer than hospital if just something minor. From what I remember app at 8weeks, 12 weeks around 17 weeks then 21 weeks all with hospital. Then obviously more frequent as pregnancy progresses.

Thanks. I’m going to phone the secretary on Monday and ask her. Haven’t attended yet for first visit but she told me on the phone that it was 12 weeks consultant, then gp, 20 weeks scan with consultant.

appledrop

Just say you want all appointments with consultant + see what they say. If you don't get the response you want then just choose another consultant. You haven't attended yet so can easily switch.

Millem

Toasty toes it depends on your consultant. I was in a Dublin hospital and only ever saw my consultant. I signed the combined care form like other posters said for handiness! Only visited gp once....to get whooping cough vaccine.
I know of one consultant in the coombe who gives a €500 discount if you go to gp for half of the appointments

Millem

Toasty toes it depends on your consultant. I was in a Dublin hospital and only ever saw my consultant. I signed the combined care form like other posters said got handiness! Only visited gp once....to get whooping cough vaccine.
I know of one consultant in the coombe who gives a €500 discount if you go to gp for half of the appointments

tea_and_cake

I rang holles St with the same question and the secretary said no point in doing combined care if private or semi because you're paying to see the consultant. My understanding from that was all my appointments were with the consultant. Which made sense to me for the price.

I chose to go public and go with midwife led combined care.

Toastytoes

I’m definitely going to query it on Monday. The secretary didn’t give any indication that there was any option so just listed out the schedule of appointments and every second one was with the gp. As far as I’m aware there is no semi private option in Galway so they’re probably getting away with this as you have no alternative other than public. I’ve seen Dr Sarma’s (other consultant in Galway) schedule of appointments too for her private patients and it’s the same, half the visits are with Gp. Have to say it’s very cheeky to expect to charge for private care and send people to gp on free visits for half the appointments.

Toots

I was semi-p in Holles St for my first, and I did half my appointments with my GP purely for convenience sake - the GP was around the corner from where I live, and I'd never be waiting for more than 15 minutes to be seen, whereas with the hospital meant a drive into the city centre and having to pay for parking, and then I'd be doing well to be waiting less than 2 hours to be seen.

I'm semi-p in the Rotunda now and it says on the site that semi-p is shared care (again works out handier for me because Rotunda is further away than Holles St) but for fully private, all your appointments are with the consultant, which is only right if you're paying several thousand for the antenatal care.

fits

I worked out cost per visit dor my antenatal care. And I was in frequently and it was still over 200 euro a visit. There is no way I'd be forking out over 3 k to see a gp half the time.

Toastytoes

Phoned the secretary again this morning and she confirmed that shared care with the gp is the model they offer. I said I wasn’t happy with this as I’m going private because I’m high risk and I want to see consultant each visit when I’m paying full private fees. She said she’d highlight what I’m looking for to him and it’d be up to him. So have to wait for a response from him. It seem they’re really creaming it in Galway, there’s no semi private option and you pay €3,400 for shared care with the gp.

shesty

To be fair, semi-p is a bit of an overrated halfway house....I've gone with it twice. (And am starting it again for a third time) in the Rotunda.You really just pay for the room afterwards, you're not guaranteed you'll see the same consultant every time unless you ask, and half the appointments are GP. You don't have them attending the birth either (although I know that may vary by hospital). You raise an interesting point though, I never thought about it like that.Having said that there's a big difference between 1100 semi-p, sharing with the GP and almost 4k private, sharing with the GP. That actually is a rip-off when I think about it.

jlm29

Toastytoes wrote: »

Phoned the secretary again this morning and she confirmed that shared care with the gp is the model they offer. I said I wasn’t happy with this as I’m going private because I’m high risk and I want to see consultant each visit when I’m paying full private fees. She said she’d highlight what I’m looking for to him and it’d be up to him. So have to wait for a response from him. It seem they’re really creaming it in Galway, there’s no semi private option and you pay €3,400 for shared care with the gp.

It's a bit of a scam alright! I paid €2800, and never saw anyone other than a consultant, except by choice!

littlemisshobo

I see my GP and consultant. Going private means I go to his clinic and not the busy hospital. It also means I see the consultant at each and every antenatal appointment. In the hospital (public) it's more likely you see the midwife. I'm not dissing midwives but I have some high risks issue so I want to see a specialist each time. My consultant is a specialist in both geriatric (thanks ahah) pregnancy and fetal abnormality. Everything I researched was positive about going public but in cases where something could be or does go wrong it was recommended to go private. I wanted to feel confident that I was getting the best care, with extensive knowledge of the possible complications that could come with my pregnancy.

I also see my GP as I do blood tests every 4 weeks and it's more convenient for me to do that at the GP's clinic.

If you want to see your consultant more - there should be no problem with that. I know other women didn't want the long waits between appointments so asked for more frequent visits and got them no problem.

I felt the wait between 12 and 23 weeks has been too long so at my 23 week appointment I will ask for more frequent visits. At 3,200 I expect to get exactly the level of service I want. (I'm waiting until 23 wks and not 20 wk for anomaly scan so his heart is bigger & the consultant can get a better look).

If I didn't have risk factors and I was younger I think I would have gone public, through the domino mid-wife scheme and gone for home-birth with the HSE midwives. Unfortunately home-birth won't be approved for me and I feel happy with the consultant we chose.

I wish they were more upfront about what their fee covered - like how frequently you can visit, scans and tests you can get, how involved they are when you go into labour, and so on. It's a very high fee to pay out.

cabogirl

Wow that’s madness, what a scam! I’m private in NMH and have been seen every 4 weeks then every 2 weeks and now weekly by my consultant. My understanding is that all the maternity hospitals in Dublin provide that, what you’re describing in Galway is semi private care. You are absolutely right to expect to see your Doctor and ask for that, hope you’re facilitated.

Blingy

I wonder is that just the option that that consultant offers. I wonder do different consultants offer different options. So another consultant might not do the shared care. You could ring around the secretaries and check.

Toots

shesty wrote: »

To be fair, semi-p is a bit of an overrated halfway house....I've gone with it twice. (And am starting it again for a third time) in the Rotunda.You really just pay for the room afterwards, you're not guaranteed you'll see the same consultant every time unless you ask, and half the appointments are GP. You don't have them attending the birth either (although I know that may vary by hospital). You raise an interesting point though, I never thought about it like that.Having said that there's a big difference between 1100 semi-p, sharing with the GP and almost 4k private, sharing with the GP. That actually is a rip-off when I think about it.

That was why I went semi P in the end as opposed to full private - I'd have asked for shared care either way so I wasn't trekking all the way to the hospital for every appointment and I'd have been just paying for appointments I wasn't using. If the hospital had been near my house, I'd have forked it over and done all the appointments there.

The fact that the OP's consultant has to be asked to do all the appointments is a bit much! Sounds like they've got patients over a barrel seeing as how there's no semi-p inbetween option, it's either go public, or spend a fortune on private and not even have all your appointments in the hospital.

shesty

I get the feeling you just get signed up for combined care because everyone it entitled to it for free, regardless of whether you go private or not.I do know someone private in the Coombe who is doing combined care but just never goes to see the GP, and this is not her first pregnancy....she did the same on her first.I think it's more that it's one of the quirks of our 'wonderful' healthcare system, where private and public exist in the same facilities.Really, if things were set up properly and you were to go private or semi-p, you should be heading to private maternity hospitals, with private birthing facilities and private rooms ......not a different building on the campus of a public hospital, using the same public birthing suites.And of course, the public system would be set up properly, and the majority would avail of it, with paying for private care being unusual.

Don't get me wrong I have absolutely noting against public hospitals or public birthing suites or anything like that.I have had two births with only a midwife on duty attending each, and it has ben exactly what I wanted.I just get so angry at how our system has been set up and allowed to evolve over the years.It's so wrong.


Rant over😳

Toastytoes

Blingy wrote: »

I wonder is that just the option that that consultant offers. I wonder do different consultants offer different options. So another consultant might not do the shared care. You could ring around the secretaries and check.

He (Prof Morrison) is the second one I’ve checked and they both (Dr Sarma and himself) are both doing this shared care with gp as their “private” option. Her fess are €3,200 and his €3,400. I wouldn’t be surprised to hear that all the consultants in Galway are pulling the same stunt. And in a region where there is very little option as to which hospital you attend and with the maternity in Galway having a bad reputation which probably makes people wary and choose private. This is the what you’re faced with. Full private fees, half your appointments under the free maternity scheme and very limited facilities in terms of private rooms and birthing options. It does feel like a scam.

lazygal

I went private twice and had all appointments with my consultant. I'd have been pretty miffed to be shunted out to my gp for any appointments, you're paying enough as it is. I attended the gp for vaccines and once for a pregnancy related matter and that was covered under the normal pregnancy visits.

jakeypooh

Can you tell me which consultant that is please?

tobdom

@toastytoes, We're in Galway with Una Conway (€3200) and its the same, pretty much shared/combined care with the GP. Dunno if you can call it a scam, but seems 'cute' at least when compared to Dublin.

Now, in saying that, you can request an appointment with your consultant at any time if you've any concerns and they should/will see you. You also get scanned at every appointment with the consultant, which is always reassuring. Also, as you come closer to your due date, you will have much more frequent appointments with your consultant. You will also have your consultant delivering your baby (unless they are on holidays, then they will have one of the other consultants covering - you will have a consultant either way). The visits to your GP will be for routine stuff, blood pressure, blood tests etc. as required.

So it might seem (and is) expensive for what you're getting (compared to Dublin or wherever), but at the end of the day you're paying for peace of mind and if you require further peace of mind, just ask your consultant for more appointments with them (as opposed to the GP) and see what they say.....

Best of luck with it all!

lazygal

I got all that with my consultant and wasn't shunted off to a gp. I can't believe these people are getting away with it. All that money for half the service.

Toastytoes

The fact that it’s not reflected in he price is very annoying, those gp visits are free so your price per visit to the consultant will be ridiculously high.

They seem to have a cosy cartel going on between them in Galway, everyone offering the same (half) service so there’s no choice for the patient. I’m half thinking of contacting the someone in the Hse to check if it’s acceptable to call that “private”. That isn’t what is described as going private on the citizens info website or the national maternity hospital website.

Effectively there is no full private option in Galway. There’s also no official semi private option so you get some kind of hybrid instead at the higher price point. I’m amazed I never heard of this being the norm in Galway before but I guess most of my friends either went public or were not based out of Galway.

lazygal

It definitely sounds like a cosy arrangement.
A friend of mine used the same consultant as I did but chose to attend the gp instead of some appointments with the consultant. I'd be asking why I was being charged almost the same as I was in Holles St. for a lesser service.

cookiecakes

I'm private in the Rotunda and the consultant asked if it was handier for me to do some GP appointments in relation to work. I work in town so I told her it was easier to come into town and she said grand and never mentioned it again. I'd be super peed off if I had no choice!

tobdom

Toastytoes wrote: »

Phoned the secretary again this morning and she confirmed that shared care with the gp is the model they offer. I said I wasn’t happy with this as I’m going private because I’m high risk and I want to see consultant each visit when I’m paying full private fees. She said she’d highlight what I’m looking for to him and it’d be up to him. So have to wait for a response from him. It seem they’re really creaming it in Galway, there’s no semi private option and you pay €3,400 for shared care with the gp.

To be fair, for the sake of balance (and I'm not trying to defend the consultants - I'm kind of taking an attitude of "it is what it is" to this), we don't know yet if this is refused in Galway if explicitly requested - will be interesting to hear how it goes Toastytoes.

For ourselves, we know that if we wnat an appointment with the consultant at any time (for any concerns or whatever) all we have to do is ask and we'll be booked in.

If the consultants in Galway are "getting away with this" model, then it's likely because it doesn't get questioned much. For all we know, those that do question it get to see the consultant for all of their appointments..... Not for a second saying it's right, but as I said above, it is what it is (if it's generally accepted as such by the majority)

Toastytoes

tobdom wrote: »

To be fair, for the sake of balance (and I'm not trying to defend the consultants - I'm kind of taking an attitude of "it is what it is" to this), we don't know yet if this is refused in Galway if explicitly requested - will be interesting to hear how it goes Toastytoes.

For ourselves, we know that if we wnat an appointment with the consultant at any time (for any concerns or whatever) all we have to do is ask and we'll be booked in.

If the consultants in Galway are "getting away with this" model, then it's likely because it doesn't get questioned much. For all we know, those that do question it get to see the consultant for all of their appointments..... Not for a second saying it's right, but as I said above, it is what it is (if it's generally accepted as such by the majority)

I don’t know yet if he’s going to oblige me by agreeing to my request, I wouldn’t be betting my house on it at this stage. I was informed in no uncertain terms that it wasn’t the morn for him. People don’t really have a choice other than to accept it if they don’t want to go public. We don’t know that it doesn’t get questioned but people have no choice. Accept it or go public. Plus I’m sure lots of first time parents may not know that this is unusual, I wasn’t sure myself until I asked.

I can’t see any reasonable excuse for charging patients in Galway the same or more, than fees charged in other cities and offering them a lesser service for their money.

And there’s v clearly a cosy setup amongst them to maintain the status quo.

€3,400 is an outrageous amount of money to pay and have half your appointments under the free maternity scheme.

shesty

Toastytoes wrote: »

I don’t know yet if he’s going to oblige me by agreeing to my request, I wouldn’t be betting my house on it at this stage. I was informed in no uncertain terms that it wasn’t the morn for him. People don’t really have a choice other than to accept it if they don’t want to go public. We don’t know that it doesn’t get questioned but people have no choice. Accept it or go public. Plus I’m sure lots of first time parents may not know that this is unusual, I wasn’t sure myself until I asked.

I can’t see any reasonable excuse for charging patients in Galway the same or more, than fees charged in other cities and offering them a lesser service for their money.

And there’s v clearly a cosy setup amongst them to maintain the status quo.

€3,400 is an outrageous amount of money to pay and have half your appointments under the free maternity scheme.

I 100% agree with you, but I think it's just something they have been getting away with because of how our health service is set up.
I think you would be right to go to the HSE, although I wouldn't be surprised if you were told something like private consultants aren't their problem (although I'd argue that it is their problem if they are involving the free GP scheme, and using public hospital facility)
The whole thing makes me very cross.

tobdom

Toastytoes wrote: »

I don’t know yet if he’s going to oblige me by agreeing to my request, I wouldn’t be betting my house on it at this stage. I was informed in no uncertain terms that it wasn’t the morn for him. People don’t really have a choice other than to accept it if they don’t want to go public. We don’t know that it doesn’t get questioned but people have no choice. Accept it or go public. Plus I’m sure lots of first time parents may not know that this is unusual, I wasn’t sure myself until I asked.

I can’t see any reasonable excuse for charging patients in Galway the same or more, than fees charged in other cities and offering them a lesser service for their money.

And there’s v clearly a cosy setup amongst them to maintain the status quo.

€3,400 is an outrageous amount of money to pay and have half your appointments under the free maternity scheme.

Wait & see, hopefully he does agree to it.... I'll say again, I'm not defending them, but it comes down to supply & demand - there's obviously still plenty demand for their Private services at these fees.

There is a choice, as you say yourself, and that's to go Public. If you don't want to go public for whatever reason, then you are at the whim of the private consultants in your area, comparing to Dublin will only really serve to frustrate you due to the apparent differences in what is provided for the money.

Realistically, it won't be half your appointments - you will see the consultant a lot more in the weeks leading up to your due date, and then you have the 'comfort' of knowing that you will have a consultant there for the birth as well.

There are differences in the Public system too depending on where you are located, so it's not that odd. For example the Glucose Tolerance Test (for gestational diabetes) as far as I know is standard/mandatory in Galway for anyone over 30 (or something around that), where as it's different in Dublin - at least it was in the last couple of years.

Try not to let it get to you too much if you can (or else go Public) as you have enough to be doing now minding yourself & your bump!

tobdom

shesty wrote: »

I 100% agree with you, but I think it's just something they have been getting away with because of how our health service is set up.
I think you would be right to go to the HSE, although I wouldn't be surprised if you were told something like private consultants aren't their problem (although I'd argue that it is their problem if they are involving the free GP scheme, and using public hospital facility)
The whole thing makes me very cross.

I appreciate the frustrations of everyone expressing this opinion, but going to the HSE will get you nowhere (except possibly into hospital with high blood pressure due to letting these frustrations get the better of you).

No one is being forced to go private and engage the services of these consultants, it's a choice. Will we go to the national consumer agency if we can buy better quality tyres cheaper in Dublin, compared to lower quality tyres that cost more in Galway?

It's far from ideal, but it is what it is unfortunately.

Toastytoes

tobdom wrote: »

I appreciate the frustrations of everyone expressing this opinion, but going to the HSE will get you nowhere (except possibly into hospital with high blood pressure due to letting these frustrations get the better of you).

No one is being forced to go private and engage the services of these consultants, it's a choice. Will we go to the national consumer agency if we can buy better quality tyres cheaper in Dublin, compared to lower quality tyres that cost more in Galway?

It's far from ideal, but it is what it is unfortunately.

I dont think you can compare health care to tyres. There’s no option to shop around when there’s only one maternity hospital in the city and all the consultants are offering the same level of service, which is hardly a coincidence. I phoned the HSE and they have put in a query to the director of maternity services in Galway and have asked them to call me back to advise.

mrsmags16

That's crazy. In the Rotunda private I got a scan every month and weekly towards the end included in consultants' fees. I also got his mobile number and could come in for an appointment/scan any time if I was worried.
I signed up with GP too in case I got a UTI or anything but never needed to go.
Is there somewhere else you can go that the consultants haven't got this monopoly going on - what about Limerick? I know it would be nice to be nearer to home but I knew people who drove from other counties to the Rotunda, for example.
As someone who works in the HSE, and a doctor, I doubt they will be of any use. Some sort of consumer forum would be a better bet.

I would add if I was in this position, I'd go public and pay for private scans and any tests e.g. chromosomal etc extra if I wanted them.

Neyite

Toastytoes wrote: »

Phoned the secretary again this morning and she confirmed that shared care with the gp is the model they offer. I said I wasn’t happy with this as I’m going private because I’m high risk and I want to see consultant each visit when I’m paying full private fees. She said she’d highlight what I’m looking for to him and it’d be up to him. So have to wait for a response from him. It seem they’re really creaming it in Galway, there’s no semi private option and you pay €3,400 for shared care with the gp.

If you are high risk then you'd get a consultant on the public system anyway. I did and my risk wasn't even all that risky. I had a handful of GP appointments but the majority of them were in the clinic at the hospital. If you have to be under Morrison for his speciality then you'd probably be under his care on the public system as well. The only difference to you then is likely to be a private room or ward for your post natal stay. And if you are city based and have no complications you can avail of same-day discharge with the PHN following up on checks at home.

tobdom

Toastytoes wrote: »

I dont think you can compare health care to tyres. There’s no option to shop around when there’s only one maternity hospital in the city and all the consultants are offering the same level of service, which is hardly a coincidence. I phoned the HSE and they have put in a query to the director of maternity services in Galway and have asked them to call me back to advise.

Sorry, I wasn't trying to compare buying tyres with buying (that's essentailly what you are doing going private) maternity care, obviously that would be silly. I was just trying to use an example. Great if the HSE can do something, but I very much doubt it, and if they can, it would very likely take years.

If I set up a business in the morning, I decide what to charge. If I charge an outrageous price, I won't have many customers. The consultants in Galway clearly have plenty of private business operating as they currently do, so people are willing to pay their fees - the only thing that would likely change that is more competition or the majority of their 'customers' vigorously questioning their model/fees. You're probably 1-in-10 (if even) that will question this with them directly..... (many more of the remaining 9-in-10 will grumble at the cost but decide to pay it anyway, as their choice)

I'm only trying to play devils advocate - keep up the crusade if you think it might lead to a positive outcome. But there's really only one 'positive outcome' that you should be focusing all of your energy on (your baby), and all of the negative energy you are fostering with this frustration isn't going to help your pregnancy.

I'm not trying to argue, and I'm obviously not helping you, so I'll leave it at this.....

Best of luck again!

shortstuff!

That's standard for private in Mullingar for what it's worth! No option for semi private. It's not as expensive though. I'm sure if there were risk factors or concerns throughout the pregnancy the consultant would opt to see you more regularly, the same would happen if you were public, they don't necessarily stick to a schedule. For instance I had concerns around 18weeks and anatomy scan wasn't until 23weeks so I phone to request an appointment so went to him instead of GP so I could have a quick scan for reassurance.

Toastytoes

Just to update on this, Prof Morrison declined to take me on as a private patient, apparently he is too busy/will be away around my expected due date. I’ve drawn my own conclusion as to whether me requesting he see me for all my antenatal appointments had anything to do with that decision. The prospect of attending the maternity in Galway is frightening. I’ve heard so many bad stories about it. Really makes me want to attend Limerick instead but I’ll also be getting monitored by a different clinic in UHG throughout the pregnancy so I don’t think that would be allowed due to issues with accessing records between different hospitals plus the extra time I would need away from work for appointments.

tobdom

Toastytoes wrote: »

Just to update on this, Prof Morrison declined to take me on as a private patient, apparently he is too busy/will be away around my expected due date. I’ve drawn my own conclusion as to whether me requesting he see me for all my antenatal appointments had anything to do with that decision. The prospect of attending the maternity in Galway is frightening. I’ve heard so many bad stories about it. Really makes me want to attend Limerick instead but I’ll also be getting monitored by a different clinic in UHG throughout the pregnancy so I don’t think that would be allowed due to issues with accessing records between different hospitals plus the extra time I would need away from work for appointments.

Why not try Private with one of the other consultants in Galway? I'm sure Prof Morrison isn't the be all & end all.......

This is an anxious & stressful enough time without adding to that by travelling long distances for your appointments. But then you feel an injustice with the private model in Galway, so that's stressing for you as well, so maybe private in Galway is not the answer.

With regards to public in Galway, everyone will focus in on & remmeber the bad/tragic cases (which shouldn't happen), but there must be 100s & 1000s of unenvetful stories where everything goes fine. Regardless of being private or not, when you go in to have your baby, you'll be utilising a lot of the public system, outside of the kind of room you get and the fact that if private a/your consultant will deliver you. We found the care from the midwives in Galway fantastic - the consultant just showed up at the right time to deliver as was expected.

Toastytoes

tobdom wrote: »

Why not try Private with one of the other consultants in Galway? I'm sure Prof Morrison isn't the be all & end all.......

This is an anxious & stressful enough time without adding to that by travelling long distances for your appointments. But then you feel an injustice with the private model in Galway, so that's stressing for you as well, so maybe private in Galway is not the answer.

With regards to public in Galway, everyone will focus in on & remmeber the bad/tragic cases (which shouldn't happen), but there must be 100s & 1000s of unenvetful stories where everything goes fine. Regardless of being private or not, when you go in to have your baby, you'll be utilising a lot of the public system, outside of the kind of room you get and the fact that if private a/your consultant will deliver you. We found the care from the midwives in Galway fantastic - the consultant just showed up at the right time to deliver as was expected.

All the consultants in Galway offer the same package, ie. shared care. I had this confirmed by the hospital.

I’m not just talking about the high profile cases of things going wrong in Galway, shocking as those are, but I’m aware of many more of sub standard care and negative outcomes for patients as a result. I’m from the area and virtually everyone I know from the region who has had a baby uses the UHG maternity including family and friends, so while I’m sure there are many uneventful deliveries, there are also many eventful ones. And they are not all unavoidable.

shesty

But what are your options?

Toastytoes

shesty wrote: »

But what are your options?

Options are public for free, or shared care for €3,200 - €3,400 depending on consultant.

There’s no SP or fully private.

There’s only one maternity hospital in the city so there’s no other options in that regard.

shesty

Sorry, I probably sound really stupid here but if you really have an issue with the private set up (and I do understand where you are coming from on that), then your only other option is public care.

Do you have a pregnancy that's high risk or something and needs particular monitoring that you think would be better in private care?In which case I guess you have to deal with it and pay the money privately.

It doesn't matter that there's no semi-private option really because it's not like that's 'better' in any way.I know it probably makes the cost and combined bit a bit more palatable but at the end of the day if your pregnancy is high risk and you think you'll need the monitoring that you think you will get in private care, then.....private it is.

I have gone semi-private myself but really I am paying for the room afterwards.Both my babies were born in general hospital delivery suites under the care of a midwife on duty.The care was excellent.And I know plenty of people in the public system who have done fine too.

As I said in previous posts, I do agree that the set-up is a rip off and I can see why you are annoyed.But at the end of the day if you feel you would be happier with private care then that's it.The baby is going to be born no matter what.

Toastytoes

shesty wrote: »

Sorry, I probably sound really stupid here but if you really have an issue with the private set up (and I do understand where you are coming from on that), then your only other option is public care.

Do you have a pregnancy that's high risk or something and needs particular monitoring that you think would be better in private care?In which case I guess you have to deal with it and pay the money privately.

It doesn't matter that there's no semi-private option really because it's not like that's 'better' in any way.I know it probably makes the cost and combined bit a bit more palatable but at the end of the day if your pregnancy is high risk and you think you'll need the monitoring that you think you will get in private care, then.....private it is.

I have gone semi-private myself but really I am paying for the room afterwards.Both my babies were born in general hospital delivery suites under the care of a midwife on duty.The care was excellent.And I know plenty of people in the public system who have done fine too.

As I said in previous posts, I do agree that the set-up is a rip off and I can see why you are annoyed.But at the end of the day if you feel you would be happier with private care then that's it.The baby is going to be born no matter what.

My issue is that I don’t think that I’ll get the monitoring that I want (yes, high risk) by going private, because half my appointments would be with the gp.

My issue is there is in effect no actual full private option in Galway. I’m not happier as a high risk patient attending the gp for half my visits. My gp doesn’t even have a scanner.

Neyite

Toastytoes wrote: »

My issue is that I don’t think that I’ll get the monitoring that I want (yes, high risk) by going private, because half my appointments would be with the gp.

My issue is there is in effect no actual full private option in Galway. I’m not happier as a high risk patient attending the gp for half my visits. My gp doesn’t even have a scanner.

If you aren't in the system yet then that's the standard line that gets trotted out. In reality, your appointments are based on the care that you need. So if you need regular monitoring for X and a GP is unable to do it, your appointment that should be with the GP would be taken over by the hospital.

I was shared care & public in UHG. They told me that I'd have half GP half hospital visits and that my first appointment would be at 21 weeks. In reality, once I got the referral, the consultant called me in at 11 weeks and looked after me for all appointments thereafter (bar one I think, where my GP referred me back to them) I was at the absolute threshold for risk - likely slightly higher than a bog-standard pregnancy and I was given very good care in UHG under Gaffney and another professor who's name I cant recall right now. It was probably better care than private patients because I was in that category I was always seen by a doctor on the professors service.

If you are calling the secretary, they'll give you the standard spiel - they have to - they aren't doctors and would get into serious trouble if they tried to advise you otherwise. If you are high risk, then your GP can't take over half your appointments if you have certain things you need checking that they cannot cater for. They'll just refer you back. But they are not going to tell you that until you are in the system. And there is no way that you'll be left without monitoring of risk factors. Mine was a very minor endocrine issue and the amount of extra checks I got because of it was a bit daft really. But it was my first pregnancy so I was happy with all the extra checks.

Why not get into the system first and talk to the consultant to discuss the plan for your ante-natal first hand - you could go public initially, you can always switch over to private and you can also switch hospitals too if you like. I know a few women that swapped from UHG to limerick or another hospital.