Private neurologist expected costs?

Edgarfrndly

I'm on the waiting list for about 2 1/2 years or so publicly, so I'm considering seeing a neurologist privately as my condition is worsening and god knows when I'll be seen. Does anybody have an idea of the costs I could expect privately? It would be out of pocket as I'm on a medical card. At this point, I'm happy to pay a few grand just to get the proper care I need - but I'd like to have an idea of consultant fees, mri, etc... that I could expect.

Also if anyone has any recommendations for a good neurologist that will listen and not rush you in and out the door, feel free to drop me a DM.

karlitob

Edgarfrndly wrote: »

I'm on the waiting list for about 2 1/2 years or so publicly, so I'm considering seeing a neurologist privately as my condition is worsening and god knows when I'll be seen. Does anybody have an idea of the costs I could expect privately? It would be out of pocket as I'm on a medical card. At this point, I'm happy to pay a few grand just to get the proper care I need - but I'd like to have an idea of consultant fees, mri, etc... that I could expect.

Also if anyone has any recommendations for a good neurologist that will listen and not rush you in and out the door, feel free to drop me a DM.

It all depends. You can ring neurologist offices for their fee - approx €150 to €280. Then bloods, then other tests such as images - an MRI can be €300+. That doesn’t include any treatments - physio (€50 per session), or drugs etc. So it can be expensive.

As for who? All neurologists are fully qualified. Whether you feel they’re listening to you or not is hard to determine. I would research their speciality rather than how nice they may or may not be. If you’ve a movement disorder, then someone with a speciality in that would be better - but again, they are all qualified to assess you.

You could go to your GP and explain your deteriorating symptoms and ask for a rereferral to neuro to put you higher on the list.

If you have a diagnosis, you could still be getting physio from someone who specialises in neurological disorders. There’s not many neuro conditions that don’t benefit from rehabilitation.

You could also chance your arm with the current ransom ware attack and ring a few hospitals, say your yet to receive your appointment.

Sorry you’re waiting so long. It’s not easy at all.

Edgarfrndly

I was referred in September of 2018, it's almost 3 years at this point. I'm at my wits end, and the delays from covid haven't helped at all.

I contacted the consultant's office a few months back, and she said it could be 2 more years before they even send out an appointment because of the delays. At this point, I'm just happy to pay. Those prices seem fine. So long as it's under 2 or 3 grand total, I should be ok. I'll google a few neurologists and call around today for some prices.

karlitob

Edgarfrndly wrote: »

I was referred in September of 2018, it's almost 3 years at this point. I'm at my wits end, and the delays from covid haven't helped at all.

I contacted the consultant's office a few months back, and she said it could be 2 more years before they even send out an appointment because of the delays. At this point, I'm just happy to pay. Those prices seem fine. So long as it's under 2 or 3 grand total, I should be ok. I'll google a few neurologists and call around today for some prices.

Sorry about all of this. We’ve the fewest neurologist per head in ireland than anywhere in Europe and OECD.

I would still contact your GP. Secretaries don’t triage; they’re just secretaries. If you’ve gone up on seriousness then your place can be modified.

And I would still get a chartered physio appointment by a specialist in neurology.

I have to say 5 years does sound very very long. Just checked the NTPF waiting list - 8000 people waiting 18+ months. You can review individual hospitals waiting lists on the ntpf website.

Edgarfrndly

karlitob wrote: »

Sorry about all of this. We’ve the fewest neurologist per head in ireland than anywhere in Europe and OECD.

I would still contact your GP. Secretaries don’t triage; they’re just secretaries. If you’ve gone up on seriousness then your place can be modified.

And I would still get a chartered physio appointment by a specialist in neurology.

I have to say 5 years does sound very very long. Just checked the NTPF waiting list - 8000 people waiting 18+ months. You can review individual hospitals waiting lists on the ntpf website.

Thank you. I contacted my GP's office, he's not back until tomorrow - so he'll call me then and I'll talk to him about converting from public to private. I don't need physio per sé, it's more cognitive/nervous system related.

brettmirl

I went private for a Neurologist, and paid €250 for the consultation. There is a cheaper rate if you have to go back again... I didn't, just got bounced to a different specialty.

Edgarfrndly

I got a referral by my GP, so we'll see how long it will take.

brettmirl

Edgarfrndly wrote: »

I got a referral by my GP, so we'll see how long it will take.

Once the letter goes to the consultant, ring their secretary, and ask to be put in a cancellation list to try get an earlier appointment. They get a lot of people cancelling, so it's always worth adding your name to their wait list while keeping your scheduled appointment.

Xenji

I paid €250 privately last year for the first visit and then €120 after that for follow ups, you will probably end up being sent for MRI/MRAs as well which will be an extra cost if you do not have health insurance and these will need to be done privately.

screamer

I’d suggest you look into Vigo healthcare. It’s 480 for a year, will give you back money on consultants and MRI is fully covered in certain clinics. There’s no waiting period if you’re under 55. It’s a no brainier if you’re going to go the private route.

As for costs consultations run anything 250 to 350
MRIs are done in segments so you’d pay 250 to 350 per segment.
I had a back mri done and 2 segments were needed so it would have been 600 for that if my health insurance didn’t cover it.

Good luck, hope you get looked after.

Edgarfrndly

Thanks everyone, much appreciated. I'll take a look into Vigo, seems reasonably priced. Also I'll contact the secretary to get put on cancellation list, thanks for the tip. Does anyone know what the average waiting list privately is?

Strumms

Edgarfrndly wrote: »

I was referred in September of 2018, it's almost 3 years at this point. I'm at my wits end, and the delays from covid haven't helped at all.

I contacted the consultant's office a few months back, and she said it could be 2 more years before they even send out an appointment because of the delays. At this point, I'm just happy to pay. Those prices seem fine. So long as it's under 2 or 3 grand total, I should be ok. I'll google a few neurologists and call around today for some prices.

It’s the best course of action.. you’ll wait for the appointment publicly and then on having it you’ll probably if my experience is anything to go by... be offered zilch in the way of help from that department / consultant, aside from tickbox chats ... since I came out of hospital all of my rehabilitation has been privately fûnded, thankfully it was just a physical problem that physiotherapy and exercise has fixed but, the Mater Brain Institute ... useless in my experience, absolutely no interest, commitment or intention of offering anything hard and fast to help...

Even the one good guy, Dr. Brian Murray has jumped ship and is out in the Hermitage and more power to him...

https://www.hermitageclinic.ie/consultants/consultant-directory/dr-brian-murray/

Give his secretary an email, a good dude... one of the few.

cj maxx

Edgarfrndly wrote: »

Thanks everyone, much appreciated. I'll take a look into Vigo, seems reasonably priced. Also I'll contact the secretary to get put on cancellation list, thanks for the tip. Does anyone know what the average waiting list privately is?

I can strongly recommend Chris McGuigan as a neurologist. He's in St Vincent's .

sporina

paid €200 for initial consultation privately in CUH - €130 for subsequent visits

cem2

@sporina - how long were you waiting for your appointment at CUH?

sporina

cem2 wrote: »

@sporina - how long were you waiting for your appointment at CUH?

pm sent

blackbird86

I was referred to a neurologist recently by GP. I was a bit taken aback when I got a letter back with an appointment date for 5 months' time. That's going private, I said at the time I can only imagine how crazy the public waiting time must be. It's a long time to wait when you've serious health concerns. It's costing me €280 for the initial appt

sporina

blackbird86 wrote: »

I was referred to a neurologist recently by GP. I was a bit taken aback when I got a letter back with an appointment date for 5 months' time. That's going private, I said at the time I can only imagine how crazy the public waiting time must be. It's a long time to wait when you've serious health concerns. It's costing me €280 for the initial appt

yep - thats the reality unfortunately - hope your ok x

Xenji

A friend of mine was waiting over 4 years to be seen publicly and when he was seen had to wait nearly a year between getting his MRI done and having his follow up appointment.

hello2020

Is going abroad an option? Also video consultation may b fastest

Edgarfrndly

My GP referred me locally without talking to me as to which neurologist I'd like to see - is this normal?

blackbird86

Edgarfrndly wrote: »

My GP referred me locally without talking to me as to which neurologist I'd like to see - is this normal?

Thats what mine did too. I only found out who I was seeing when I got the appt letter. I don't know anything about any of the neurologists in Dublin so wouldn't have had one in mind to specifically pick

nibtrix

Edgarfrndly wrote: »

My GP referred me locally without talking to me as to which neurologist I'd like to see - is this normal?

Most GPs have specific consultants that they use for referrals over and over. My own GP has referred me to two different specialists (different issues) over the years, and the second one commented on the fact that all 3 of them had been in medical school together! I’m not complaining because they’ve both been great, but I think it’s a fairly typical scenario.

sporina

Edgarfrndly wrote: »

My GP referred me locally without talking to me as to which neurologist I'd like to see - is this normal?

did you have one in mind?

brettmirl

blackbird86 wrote: »

I was referred to a neurologist recently by GP. I was a bit taken aback when I got a letter back with an appointment date for 5 months' time. That's going private, I said at the time I can only imagine how crazy the public waiting time must be. It's a long time to wait when you've serious health concerns. It's costing me €280 for the initial appt

I mentioned earlier in the thread, but it really is worth contacting the secretary of the neurologist you are due to see and ask to be put on a cancellation list.
With Covid, a lot of people are cancelling their scheduled appointments, so def worth ringing or dropping an email.

Mam1996

Hi, just something else to be aware of, it's all well and good to estimate out patient expenses and mri's etc but be aware if you need to be admitted to hospital. As a private patient of a consultant it can be extremely expensive (we're talking thousands for a couple of nights).
Try your GP first to see if you can be re-referred as an urgent or the consultant's secretary for a cancellation list. If your GP feels you require urgent assessment you might get a letter for the emergency dept or the medical assessment unit where you could enter the system almost immediately.
Hope you feel well soon

blackbird86

brettmirl wrote: »

I mentioned earlier in the thread, but it really is worth contacting the secretary of the neurologist you are due to see and ask to be put on a cancellation list.
With Covid, a lot of people are cancelling their scheduled appointments, so def worth ringing or dropping an email.

Thanks for the tip. The letter I got said to email the secretary if you wanted to be put on the cancellation list so I did that straight away. I never got any acknowledgement back but fingers crossed I might get seen sooner

Edgarfrndly

sporina wrote: »

did you have one in mind?

My friend with MS had given me a good recommendation for one in Cork, but I digress - he's already made the appointment.

sporina

Edgarfrndly wrote: »

My friend with MS had given me a good recommendation for one in Cork, but I digress - he's already made the appointment.

dunno if your condition is suspected MS - no need to disclose.. but most Neuro's specialise.. mayb your GP referred you to one who works in the area specifically for what ever condition he wants you checked out for.. mayb.. thats how referrals are usually made..