Public or Private

[Hackes]

Hi All,

As a first time Mum2be I am wondering if all you experienced Mums out there could offer some advise about the differences/pros & cons (apart from the cost!)of going Private and Public in Drogheda?

As this is our first, it is all quiet overwhelming, for this reason I am veering towards Private but would like to look at all the options out there. So I would really appreciate any comments, tips, feelings, experiences you may have to share!

[Sexylady]

Hiya,

Congratulations on been pregant.What a wonderful experience and adventure the next 9 months will be for you.
To be honest I had the same questions in my head when I was pregant and I went public I thought about the money I would spend going private weighted up all the pros and cons and had a friend who went private and we ended up with the same consultant and she paid 4500.00 euro the only difference was that she got few more scans.
Her consultant wasn’t there for the delivery of her baby and she had a few complications.
There is a website called babycheck.ie where you can go and have alternative scans at a charge but believe you will need all the money you can find when it comes to buying all the things you will need for you baby.
I was treated very will in the Lourdes couldn’t recommend the staff enough never had to wait too long for my appointments.

To be honest If I was having another baby I would go public again as there is no difference at all your not even guranteed to have a private room

Best of luck and congratulations once again

[happymumblemum]

It will come out whether you go public or private.!!

I was semi private 6 years ago on dd ..didn’t see my" consultant" at the birth or even following…

Each appointment literally lasted 2 minutes..blood pressure then out the door after an hour or so’s wait each time in Holles Street.

Only good thing about it was the room we were in after baby was born was only 3 other mums…however the public ward ..where they put me at the start was not so good..about 20 mums and screaming kids..loads of Nigerians sitting on my bed 😯 when I was trying to bf. Even when I pulled the curtain around me they were all still tippling on to the bed 😆

No offence to anyone Nigerian but this particular group had no respect for anyone else at all.

Also the shower and toilet areas were not the best in the public ward 🙁

I also was not offered a scan until well into the preg so I paid privately for one.

In all honesty I would take my chances in Public if I had to go again..I was lucky last time as my work covered the insurance..I certainly wouldn’t have paid it myself!

[opaljh]

congratulations its an exciting time being pregnant especially your first!

well i had my first dd in the rotunda i went public & it was a nitemare appointments times were a joke !! i always remember having my appointments around the 2.30 mark & i never got out of there till at least 5.30 & then in the ward, it was terrifying, i had the same problem as happymumblemum i had to keep everything locked up and was even afraid to leave dd while i went to the toilet! 😡

I had my second dd in OLOL i went public also & i found it a million times better thatthe rotunda the wards are smaller & so much more secure i really felt at ease there, my only regret is not having my first dd in olol! i found the appointment times brillliant & the staff where amazing! i understand in a big hospital like the rotunda the staff are under pressure & i have to say thery were also lovely, but OLOL public is brilliant !!

well the best of luck 😀

[Martina]

I went private both times, I knew I had complications though, I have High BP since I was 18.

I’m glad I went private, both times my babies were born Premature and both times I had cesarean sections performed by my chosen Dr.’s

Three years ago when I had my youngest I was sent to Rotunda because my Renal Specialist runs a BP Clinic there. I was diagnosed with Pregnant Diabetes and I got to see both sides of it. I had to attend the Public Clinic for Diabetes and the Private one for my Consultant. At the public clinic I could be waiting 2-3 hrs each appointment at the private one 15 mins average. But because I was travelling long distance in stead of making me attend two different days in the one week my Consult. used to meet me after the Diabetic Clinic towards the end. They couldn’t do enough for me. Another difference I noticed those at the Public Clinics were waiting months for their scans I had one every second apt. Again no wait.

My Consultant Paul Byrne cost €2,400, but Prof. Malone was over€4,500.00. I picked Mr. Byrne because he specialised in BP and the peace of mind that one person was dealing with me all the time and knew my file was invaluable to me.. I think I would recommend it if yyou have underlying complications if not I don’t know if I could justify the cost if I’d thought all was regular

[Fabienne]

I went public (first in rotunda, 2d=nd 3rd in OLOL).
Everything went wrong with the first, but being kept in a public ward, when it start to turn bad (very very High blood pressure), the others mums-to be were helpfull, called for help for me. Could I have called the help myself alone in a room, not sure.
Then after the birth and death of my baby had to go to public consultant the morning after my loss, to check my medication and blood pressure. Staff made sure I was seen first, manage for me not to see a single baby or pregnant woman. It meant a lot for me (even if it means I took someone place in line and they had to wait longer for me to cut the Q).
They really went the extra mile even public.

In OLOL for number 2 and 3, went public have to say you need to know your medical file, everything went well, no complains, but had the feeling I had to remind them of all the difficulties I had (some serious enough with number 2, and number 1).
Will they have been more carefull if private?

But many of my friends said even private you see the same consultant but not garanty to have him for your big day.
It never bothers me to see a different doctor, they were all the same reading partly the file (execpt one).

Know and understand your medical file if you go public, private no experience.

It’s a difficult choice, but go with your feeling and your budget.

Fabienne.

[Hackes]

Hi,

Thank you very much for your well wishes, advise and thoughts. It’s great to hear how you have found the different hospitals, particularly the Lourdes. Excuse my ignorance opaljh but what does OLOL stand for, apologies I am new to all this and not quite up on the lingo yet!

The scene you describe, happymumblemum, just sounds like a nightmare. The showers,toilets being a big turn off, not to mention the lack of privacy. Not knowing what to expect of how the baby will be and what my body will be doing 😯 after the birth makes me want a private room. But if you are not guaranteed this, nor having your consultant there (as you mention sexylady) what are you paying for? Guaranteed appointment times and more scans?

The cost is an issue for us too, however my company medical covers a 3 night stay in private ward and up to €350 towards consultancy costs, which I imagine are considerably more than that! Not to mention everything else we need to get! 😯

Thanks again for taking the time to respond. Will have to give it a little more consideration.

Hackes
🙂

[Hackes]

Merci Beaucoup Fabienne!

I am very sorry to hear of your loss and difficult time. Thank you for sharing your experiences with me.

Regards

[opaljh]

haha sorry hackles OLOL stands for our lady of lourdes, it took me a while to get used to all the txt writing 😆

fabienne so sorry to hear of your loss xxx

[scole1]

olol is our lady of lourdes…

if that’s where you are having baby there are many here that can offer advice….

i have had 2 kids there and 2 very different experiences…both public
first child was born in the MLU midwifery led unit an option that can be taken if you ask, as long as you are in good health really, this scheme is to monitor women in pregnancy and labour, in natural labour, you can labour in water it’s fab i was one of the luck ones to have a waterbirth,,,,ds was the 100 baby boy born on the unit and the 40th waterbirth there, and have to say the care was fab…..
i had a 3rd degree tear 9nothing to to with hospital) so next child i had to have section, i was sent to dr rabbee, who i met 6days before baby, and she actually carried out the section, all was fine, again public, i was put into a semi private room only 2 beds, and regards cleanliness it was clean, but i also brought flash wipes etc etc just in case so don’t let that put you off, the care was fantastic the midwives were so so nice and i can honestly say i cannot fault the care given, you will get the same midwives regardless whether you’re private or public….

yeah you have to wait around for appointments, think you do regardless (not sure) scan you only get one…i got a few paid privately and then consultant wanted to check baby, but once they are happy all is fine they don’t scan you…
but all in all i would if going again go public, i have friends who have had babies in hdublin and they have said they would if they thought properly about it had the baby in drogheda, again some have had babies in both dublin and drogheda and prefer dublin and others have said drogheda…

i hope you find the answers to what you’re looking for, but in my opinion and mine ionly ifeel that the standard of care i received was great i don’t think paying would’ve made any difference what’s so ever

best of luck…

[Fabienne]

As Scole said, Same staff same care, private or public.
And the midwifes they really care about the mums-to be and their babies.
They make you feel human.
I’m french as you all know, and in France they’re treating a disease / piece of meat and forget that you are an human being first.

So enjoy the care you’ll get, as it’s much much better than in France! We don’t hear it often but it is true.

And public or private, if it’s a busy day (many babies due at the same time) you’ll feel left alone, and you’ll feel you’re getting a huge amount of care if less busy.
So it’s not a question of public or private it’s how many babies the same day (and you can’t control that).

Thank you for your kind words. And once again it’s easier for me to get in term with my loss here than it would have been in France, just because the staff do care about you.
They DO CARE.

Talk soon,
Fabienne

[ditto]

Wow … you girls are fantastic, it’s real girl power here !

I have nothing to add as I assume you get the message by now that there is no difference in public /private once you’re in labour and afterwards. Unless you have complications and need the one on one focus of a consultant throughout your pregnancy then it’s money well spent.

If you plan to breastfeed then mention this to your midwife before the room allocations after birth. Tell her you need as much privacy as you can as this is important to you. Be clear and firm as private rooms can be allocated to public patients … if one is available and no other patient needs it more than you (medically) then you can jump the que on private patients. Technically your VHI will cover the cost of a private room despite you being a public patient, unfortunately OLOL has a cosy arrangement with consultants that VHI bills are all signed off by the consultants (hence bolstering their private practice = big conflict of interest). The dublin hospitals will allow private on admission … just have to wait till OLOL catch up – sorry to rant !

Oh and bring your flip flops for the shower and don’t touch anything, it’s not the worst but no place like home ! 😆

[Taylor5]

Ditto bring flip flops yes but dont touch anything!! 😆 😆 😆 Its not bad at all…..

Both have pros and cons…
public in Drogheda isnt like poor HMM’s 20 bed ward in Dublin, up here 6 beds and when lucky ( like i have been a few times) 2 bed rooms. Food great care great, Doctors you can be lucky, scole above said she was Dr Rabee and only seen her a few days before the birth then she did the section, i had same Dr seen her on all my visits but had her understudy for my section, so realy pot luck.
Long Q’s in public clinics and late appointments ie 20 weeks for first visit.

if your private you might have your own room, you will be seen in the drs room in Fair street (well most are there) and little waiting times.
If you are a first time mum being in a room with others can be nice, pain in the bum at times but…. go with the flow see what your heart says.. I cant see the difference in public and private in Drogheda, i got to see the dr i wanted so same staff same doc but for FREE…… its the only time in Irish healthcare system you will get FREE healthcare 😆 😆 😆
MLU is stunning, never had care there but had a good luck around, had health issues so couldnt qualify.

ONE BIT OF ADVICE, IF YOU ARE PREGNANT…… ring and make your appointment NOW!!!! Its gone that you wee on the test and ring the hospital at the same time as the demand on waiting lists are so long new days…. Good luck and if you make a choice and not happy its not set in stone you can move about… but make those appointments now

[Yvonne]

I went private on both my children and was lucky that I had my consultants at each birth and got a private room both times also….I didn’t want to be in a public ward myself, was much happier in my own room…

The advantage I found with private is that you meet your consultant every time and I found this reassuring rather than meeting different people each time.. you build a good relationship with them,
I had gestational diabetes both times and was looked after really quickly in both cases….

As many have said at the end of the day, you will still deliver your baby with great care, so it is a personal choice… it is expensive, but if I had another, I would go private again.

[sunshineorla]

Agree with others. I had my son in OLOL and was very happy with the treatment during and after labour. I had written alot in my birth plan of what i did and didnt want to happen and they supported what I wanted. I used aromatherapy and the birthing balls and gas and air when it got harder. I delivered standing up which was unusual but I honestly could not get in to any other position but it didnt phase the midwives at all. Although afterwards a consultant came to my bed and said they didnt encourage that as a position to give birth in LOL. I did have a lot of tearing so I was in theatre for that afterwards, but I felt very at ease with the whole thing and I healed very quickly after. (highly reccommend taking Arnica after the birth). There was 5 others on the ward but you are so focused on you and baby you dont even notice them and I was in for 4 days. The bathrooms are ok. Flip flops are probably a good idea for the showers. You cant expect the ritz with all thats going on in a hospital ward. The staff were very nice and I didnt encounter anyone who I didnt like. I was Bfreast feeding and I got lots of help and support with that. They do prioritise that help. NO question was ever too stupid and that helped confidence levels.
The only negative I would have to say is going in for appointments. They are split into morning and afternoon. It didnt matter what time I got an appointment for in the morningI was never seen till between 12 and 1. It seemed to me that anyone who had a morning appointment just turned up at 9am regardless. There was aleways a full waiting area ahead of me when I got there. So I just turned up at half 12 once and I only had to wait fora few minuts…every other time I was ther 2-3 hours. Which is mind numbing!!!
Thats it. I would consider a home birthfor the next one. Most of the midwives are having home births and if that doesnt say it all I dont know what does. 😆

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