Child Tonsillectomy - Private

carolkeane3

Hi All,

My 3.5 year old boy has suffered a lot with his tonsils since he was about 3/4 months old and has had many episodes of tonsillitis including a 7 night stay in Crumlin at about 18 months old. We have been seeing the ENT team in Crumlin for the past 2 years. On my most recent visit (Nov 2017) we saw the consultant registrar to be told that my son needed his tonsils and adenoids removed as well as probably needing grommets. At that point we were waiting 16 months to get a date for a sleep study test (there is a concern he may have sleep apnea as a result of his extremely large tonsils). At that appointment i was told it was likely that we would be waiting another 6 months for a date for a sleep study and then a further 12 months or more for a date for operation despite them thinking the operation was necessary at such a young age.

So I asked the question as to whether there was an option to go private and speed up the dates. I was told that someone would come back to me. In the meantime i found out that the consultant we were seeing in Crumlin also has private rooms in the Hermitage and we made an appointment to see him directly over the Christmas period. In the meantime however we got an appointment for the sleep study test (the week after our Crumlin appointment) and also a date in February to have the operation. We went to see the consultant anyway at his private rooms where he reconfirmed the need for the operation and has booked him to the Hermitage to get them removed in February. (the same doc would be preforming the operation in ether Crumlin or Hermitage)

I raised my concerns with the consultant at the appointment - i.e. I would prefer my son to have the operation in Crumlin - a childrens hospital where they are well equipped if anything were to go wrong etc. He said that if anything were to go wrong in hermitage he would be brought to Crumlin in any event. he did confirm that the doctors / nurses within hermitage are general practitioners and don't specialise in ENT like they would if he were in Crumlin. He also said that the appointment I have Crumlin is likely to get changed several times and could be months before it gets done (unlike the Hermitage where the date wont change)

Obviously I'm so nervous about the operation anyway regardless of where it takes place, he is so young and small for his age ( as a result of constant sore throats and not being able to eat).

Anyway my question is.....has anyone been through the same experience and have had their child's tonsils removed in the Hermitgae and how did they find it.

Sorry for the long post!!

Thanks

farmerwifelet

My little one had hers out in Tullamore general and like your little lad was underweight and small for her age. She was eating toast within an hour of waking and hasn't looked back since.

Crumlin hospital is not the best - its overcrowded, ancient and really under resourced. They turf kids out an hour after some tests under anesthetic, whether they have recovered properly or not. I would go with the hermitage in a heartbeat compared to Crumlin.

Having tonsils removed is a pretty basic surgery in children its not a complicated procedure so I wouldn't be worried on that score. The sooner you get it done the better for their sake.

Spanish Eyes

Little nephew had it done in the Hermo. Grand no problems, out the next day.

alias no.9

One of my boys got his out at the Hermitage recently and everything went really well. There's a lot to be said for certainty if you have your little lad covered on Health Insurance or the cost is not a major issue for you.

carolkeane3

Thanks for that

farmerwifelet wrote: »

My little one had hers out in Tullamore general and like your little lad was underweight and small for her age. She was eating toast within an hour of waking and hasn't looked back since.

Crumlin hospital is not the best - its overcrowded, ancient and really under resourced. They turf kids out an hour after some tests under anesthetic, whether they have recovered properly or not. I would go with the hermitage in a heartbeat compared to Crumlin.

Having tonsils removed is a pretty basic surgery in children its not a complicated procedure so I wouldn't be worried on that score. The sooner you get it done the better for their sake.

farmerwifelet

I know as a parent we worry if we are doing the right thing for our children its so tough - but honestly getting them out as quick as we could was one thing I got right!

carolkeane3

That's great to hear, thanks

Spanish Eyes wrote: »

Little nephew had it done in the Hermo. Grand no problems, out the next day.

carolkeane3

Delighted to hear that.

alias no.9 wrote: »

One of my boys got his out at the Hermitage recently and everything went really well. There's a lot to be said for certainty if you have your little lad covered on Health Insurance or the cost is not a major issue for you.

jo2509

I had my tonsils out in the Hermitage last year (i'm in my 30's). Couldn't fault the place - in fact i was the only adult having it done that day the rest were all kids

carolkeane3

Thank you so much for responsive

jo2509 wrote: »

I had my tonsils out in the Hermitage last year (i'm in my 30's). Couldn't fault the place - in fact i was the only adult having it done that day the rest were all kids

Corruptedmorals

The Hermitage is fine for a procedure like that. If the consultant felt your child needed it done in the environment of a children's hospital then you would be advised to wait for the date there (make sure you take him off that waiting list). That said, having worked in both hospitals I cannot agree with the poster criticising Crumlin. They have private waiting lists too except that consultant does not practice privately there and considering the enormous strain it is under it is still a fantastic hospital doing its best with the best of doctors. There is a reason it is the national paediatric speciality centre for almost all specialities.

Ray367

Hi. I know it’s an old post but still if any one of you could tell me the cost of private tonsillectomy at Hermitage and how long did it take to get an appointment?

Thank you.