dermatology: private versus public waiting times

mvl

Scenario is that early September our GP had referred us to a dermatologist in Temple Street, using our private insurance.

Just today we got an appointment for Feb 2019, but noticed that it was not with the specialist we were originally sent to; so I do wonder if such waiting is caused by that (e.g. original consultant is not available).

- Does anyone know if this is reasonable waiting time for private insurance at this hospital ? Would public waiting time be worse or better ?
- Can there be smaller waiting times in other hospitals with pediatric dermatologists ?

Thank you.

Went on the public & private list for a dermatology issue at the same time. I got seen in Vincent's Private within, I think, 3 weeks. €210 for initial visit & €145 for each subsequent visit (remember to claim tax back on these fees).

Just this week I was called for my public appointment, 15 months after I went on the public list. This was in St Vincent's public hospital in Dublin. To be honest, I had forgotten entirely about the public appointment I made and assumed I was going back to see the private consultant (the text was from SVUH). It was only on the morning of the meeting, when I went to the private clinic, that I remembered it after they said I had no appointment with them. So it was sort of a waste as the issue was resolved.

PS: Make sure you have the Drug Payments Card. It caps your medicine costs at €134 per month, and much of the medicine I got was considerably more expensive than that so it was a very welcome break to have my pharmacy bill limited like that.

mvl

Deleted User wrote: »

Went on the public & private list for a dermatology issue at the same time. I got seen in Vincent's Private within, I think, 3 weeks. €210 for initial visit & €145 for each subsequent visit (remember to claim tax back on these fees).

Just this week I was called for my public appointment, 15 months after I went on the public list. This was in St Vincent's public hospital in Dublin. To be honest, I had forgotten entirely about the public appointment I made and assumed I was going back to see the private consultant (the text was from SVUH). It was only on the morning of the meeting, when I went to the private clinic, that I remembered it after they said I had no appointment with them. So it was sort of a waste as the issue was resolved.

PS: Make sure you have the Drug Payments Card. It caps your medicine costs at €134 per month, and much of the medicine I got was considerably more expensive than that so it was a very welcome break to have my pharmacy bill limited like that.

thanks for info, I appreciate it. is it about an adult or child referral ?
as I need it for my child, not sure if st vincents would apply - would you know ?

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mvl wrote: »

thanks for info, I appreciate it. is it about an adult or child referral ?
as I need it for my child, not sure if st vincents would apply - would you know ?

most private hospitals will see children.


my son has had operations done in the hermitage.
we've also been able to go private to temple st for consultations.

mvl

Finn Screeching Walrus wrote: »

most private hospitals will see children.


my son has had operations done in the hermitage.
we've also been able to go private to temple st for consultations.

thank you. can I plse ask what were the waiting times for an appointment where you've been ?

- might talk to our GP Monday to refer us elsewhere.

Digs

We had about a 5 month wait on private list for a dermatologist in St James to see my then 3 yr old. That was two years ago now so not too sure what the scenario is currently but you could ring secretaries in the various hospitals to find out their current waiting lists.

markpb

We were fortunate (in a sense) that our daughters eczema was so bad she only spent a few weeks waiting between referral and first public consultation. That was five and a half years ago and she's still seeing the Derm team in Crumlin two or three times a year. If it's an issue that you think could be resolved in a few visits, going private might be worth it. For anything more serious, paying 200+ per appointment will add up very quickly!

Huge +1 to the poster above who mentioned the Drugs Payment Scheme. You'd be stored how expensive some things can be. Our second was on a medicine for reflux as a baby. We paid 140 per month for three bottles, outside the scheme they would be over 200 per bottle.

It's also worth asking your pharmacist for a list of medication covered by the scheme. You'd be surprised what's on there including some mundane medicines like painkillers.

markpb

markpb wrote: »

Huge +1 to the poster above who mentioned the Drugs Payment Scheme. You'd be stored how expensive some things can be. Our second was on a medicine for reflux as a baby. We paid 140 per month for three bottles, outside the scheme they would be over 200 per bottle.

It's also worth asking your pharmacist for a list of medication covered by the scheme. You'd be surprised what's on there including some mundane medicines like painkillers.

On this, by the way, get all your drugs in that month when the total is over €134 from the same pharmacy if possible. If you get it from, say, three different pharmacies you have to make separate claims for each one by writing to the Drugs Payment Scheme. So, you will get your excess money back but it's just messier and longer. Stay with the one pharmacy and you won't pay any more upfront than the €134. Also, obviously use the one card for everybody in the family as the €134 limit is per cardholder. So, for instance, make a point of telling your partner to go to your chosen pharmacy and use your card if they are getting any other prescription drugs in that same calendar month as it will be free.

Drugs Payment Card information & application form

PS: If the cost is under €134 shop around because the difference in price can be absolutely shocking. My local pharmacy was charging me €97 or €98 for something that I paid €73 or €74 in one of the larger chain pharmacies.

sabrewolfe

6 months ish isnt terrible for a public dermatology appointment.

A handy website to check out to look at waiting list data is www.ntpf.ie the site lists all waiting lists by speciality for Irish Hospitals.

For example if you go into the listing http://www.ntpf.ie/home/pdf//2018/09/hospitals/out-patient/0940.pdf

It says that there are 1034 patients waiting for opd appointments in Temple Street for Dermatology. Alot of these are waiting 15-18+ months.

If you opt to pay to visit a private clinic like in Temple Street you would get seen by the consultant fairly quickly but your looking at something like €200 per visit & follow up visits and you would have to pay for any testing they send you for like bloods and allergy tests etc....

Weyhey

Waiting over a year to be seen in Crumlin. Miraculously my kids skin was nearly perfect the week we got the appointment, I hadn't photos of how bad it was a month early and doc looked at me like I was nuts and discharged us. Of course a few weeks later it was bad again.

Edited to say - the appointment was late last year.

2xj3hplqgsbkym

6 months to see ophthalmologist privately in Temple street.
At least 3 year wait publicly!

Gael23

That seems a bit excessive to me.
I was waiting 4 months in SVPH.