Health Insurance Hi-tech Hospital List

Hi,
What are the Hi-tech hospitals in Ireland? From scanning through the recent posts I gather that:

• Mater Private
• Beacon
• Whitford Clinic waterford

Are all hitech. What about the hermitage?

Also what classifies them as hitech? Have they access to newer equipment and diagnostic tests and services? Do they liaise with other hospitals if you already had a file there? Are their consultants only private (ie do they work the public system also)?
Many thanks

I've read through the Aviva website, who I'm currently with and I take it that the Blackrock clinic is hitech too. No mention of Whitfield there so perhaps that's just private.

Have any posters experience of care in either of materP, beacon or brc? I've potential cardiac problems in later years (high cholesterol even with healthy diet) so I'd like to be in the know early.

As far as I can see the mater private seems best for oncology care? Any thoughts on this?

If anyone has a list or knowledge of what exactly constitutes a hitech hsptl please share. Generalisations on the hsptl website indicate specialist cardiac, orthopaedic and oncology care...but any specific tests/technolohies/treatments?

tia

Hi tech hospitals are Blackrock, Mater Private and Beacon. Though the insurers seem to be reclassifying the Beacon as a private hospital.
There's nothing available in these hospitals that aren't available in public hospitals, though obviously the wait times will be much shorter.

so if somebody is living down the country, is it really pointless paying a premium in one's private health policy for access to these so called hi tech hospitals which all seem to be located in Dublin. They give the impression they have better equipment, the latest expertise etc when really the likes of the Bons Secure private hospitals can give the same level of care.

moneybox,
On the few occasions that I accompanied a family member on consultants visits in a hi tech hospital, the waiting room was full of non-dubs, and on one visit it was remarked that we were the only two dubs. The others had travelled from all parts of Ireland, even as far as Kerry. Likewise, in the ward, out of 6 beds, just 2 were from Dublin. So, in reality, distance doesn't seem to be an obstacle where healthcare is concerned. People seem to be prepared to travel, to make full use of their health insurance cover.
Hi-tech cover is usually included as standard on most policies, so it doesn't have to be expensive. Its a handy option to have as an extra if required. I agree, the private hospitals are on a par when it comes to care, sometimes it depends on the health issue involved as regards what hospitals people choose.

Snowyb

Thanks for that snowby. personally I think I would want to be on my last legs before I would consider travelling all the way up to Dublin for treatment

I know that the hermitage definitely has equipment not available anywhere else in Ireland . Prior to this you had to travel to UK for treatment with it. It negates the need for surgery kin certain tumours . I think the beacon is getting something similar soon. As surgery can also be performed I'm not sure if it is available on the public system

Hi bleary,
What equipment exactly does the hermitage have that's unique? I've been there and it's certainly impressive from making apts to seeing consultants etc. Many thanks

The CyberKnife is one. It treats cancer and non cancerous tumours anywhere in the body.

The Hermitage isn't a hi-tech hospital though, it's just a private hospital.

As regards CyberKnife, TAVI, etc, it's subject to approval and won't be for everybody.

Thanks accounted. Yep I was talking about cyber knife. I believe the beacon Is getting gamma knife some time soon. prior to this I know people went to Sheffield for this treatment. I know my health insurance policy dropped the hermitage from my cover so I changed policies because it's the most convenient hospital for me. I've found the hermitage great actually. Glad I kept the cover up.