MRI Tullamore

kassie · 16-04-2021 10:43am #1

So my GP referred me to Tullamore for an MRI on my shoulder (long term issue). The MRI Dept. in Tullamore ring me to ask if I want a public or private appointment. I say public, as i don't have private health insurance. They then ask if i have a medical card, and i say no, i've never owned a medical card. Then they proceed to advise that only medical card holders can be put on a public waiting list and the only alternative available to me is to go private and pay the €250 private MRI fee. WTF

I've heard that the MRI Dept. is privately owned but is contracted to the HSE but where do they get off only allowing medical card holders onto a PUBLIC waiting list???

does anyone know if all MRI Dept. across the country are the same or can i request to be sent to another location, other than tullamore, that actually allow the public access to public services?

Marcusm · 23-04-2021 12:23pm

I thought diagnostic services for which a GP refers you as a public patient are free irrespective of whether you hold a medical card. It may be that the private provider in Tullamore is not part of the system and your GP has to refer you elsewhere.

kassie · 23-04-2021 12:28pm

Marcusm wrote: »

I thought diagnostic services for which a GP refers you as a public patient are free irrespective of whether you hold a medical card. It may be that the private provider in Tullamore is not part of the system and your GP has to refer you elsewhere.

That's what I thought too! I'm waiting on a call back from my GP

Vorsprung · 23-04-2021 6:54pm

Most public hospital MRI dept don’t allow GP referrals. There is a scheme running since January that allows GPS to refer medical card/doctor visit card patients to private MRI providers for a select list of MRI scans, at no cost to the patient.

Minier81 · 23-04-2021 7:02pm

The mri at tullamore hospital is privately operated by Alliance medical. That is awful though. Ask your gp is she/he can refer you to a public one. Naas Hospital has a public one as far as I know. Portlaoise is a private one too.

I would write a letter of complaint to the hospital though as I agree this is really unfair.

Minier81 · 23-04-2021 7:09pm

https://www2.hse.ie/services/hse-complaints-and-feedback/your-service-your-say.html
And complain via the above to the hse your service your say too.

Dempo1 · 26-04-2021 9:56pm

kassie wrote: »

So my GP referred me to Tullamore for an MRI on my shoulder (long term issue). The MRI Dept. in Tullamore ring me to ask if I want a public or private appointment. I say public, as i don't have private health insurance. They then ask if i have a medical card, and i say no, i've never owned a medical card. Then they proceed to advise that only medical card holders can be put on a public waiting list and the only alternative available to me is to go private and pay the €250 private MRI fee. WTF

I've heard that the MRI Dept. is privately owned but is contracted to the HSE but where do they get off only allowing medical card holders onto a PUBLIC waiting list???

does anyone know if all MRI Dept. across the country are the same or can i request to be sent to another location, other than tullamore, that actually allow the public access to public services?

Just saw this, I too have been referred to Tullamore GH for an MRI for long term leg issue. I do have a medical card but you might not be aware even with this, my wait on the list is 47 months (I'm not kidding) and this before covid. I'm at a stage were ill have to go private as I'm a year into wait. I've been to the orthedpedic clinic twice in the last year and despite chronic pain and pointless xrays and physio , I still have to wait for MRI availability. I don't blame the excellent clinic, just the system.

So average wait on public list with or without medical cars 47 months which is beyond shocking

Dempo1 · 30-04-2021 7:54am

Just an extraordinary update.

As stated I had an MRI referral for Tullamore GH, approximately 18 months ago for persistent knee problem. I recieved a confirmation that it would be 47 months. In the mean time, such was the pain, I was sent to physio with limited success. I was then referred for an xray at tullamore, nothing obvious showed up, this was 2nd xray. In the mean time I was on difine Gel monthly to ease pain albeit ideally this gel is a 14 day treatment.

My GP once again wrote to Tullamore and to my astonishment and a few days after posting here, I've recieved confirmation of MRI on the 24th May next. It is suspected I've either ligament or muscle problem.

I do have a medical card due to a long term Thyroid Disease but don't think medical card is relevant to this appointment.

I guess persistence by your GP is critical but honestly my complaint was becoming dibilitating and affecting sleep and daily life, movement etc.

So my humble advise and ii know it sounds easy is to be persistent.

messrs · 30-04-2021 8:14am

kassie wrote: »

So my GP referred me to Tullamore for an MRI on my shoulder (long term issue). The MRI Dept. in Tullamore ring me to ask if I want a public or private appointment. I say public, as i don't have private health insurance. They then ask if i have a medical card, and i say no, i've never owned a medical card. Then they proceed to advise that only medical card holders can be put on a public waiting list and the only alternative available to me is to go private and pay the €250 private MRI fee. WTF

I've heard that the MRI Dept. is privately owned but is contracted to the HSE but where do they get off only allowing medical card holders onto a PUBLIC waiting list???

does anyone know if all MRI Dept. across the country are the same or can i request to be sent to another location, other than tullamore, that actually allow the public access to public services?

I am a public patient - like you no private health insurance and no medical card - I have been referred for MRI's and put on the public waiting list for St Vincents Hospital and Tallaght Hospital and received MRI's in both at different stages

Dempo1 · 30-04-2021 8:40am

messrs wrote: »

I am a public patient - like you no private health insurance and no medical card - I have been referred for MRI's and put on the public waiting list for St Vincents Hospital and Tallaght Hospital and received MRI's in both at different stages

I don't quite understand why OP not put on public waiting list, regardless who opporates MRI equipment at Tullamore. I would have assumed it's a basic entitlement if your a public patient or indeed even if you have private insurance to be able to be put on public list. Whilst everyone has the right to go private, it's not always possible for various reasons. Of course there is long waiting lists but sadly that's the system.

As I've explained, I've been referred via public waiting system, have got appointment now after a long wait and yes confirmed by a private company running MRI equipment in a public hospital.

MRI Tullamore

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