I am due first baby at xmas. I have VHI cover which will cover me for 3 nights in hospital. I have had friends that have stayed in public ward and friends that have had stayed in private, and the public ward friends said it was awful at night time when one baby started crying it woke the rest etc, the noise of visitors etc, no privacy etc etc. On the other hand, some of them had good craic and made some good friends. The private room means you have your privacy and own bathroom etc etc. I am a bit worried about fees however and am wondering if we would be better off keeping this money for the non-paid maternity leave? Im going to Drogheda. My cousin told me what her BUPA didnt cover, she claimed for on a med1 form and got most (except about €200) back - is this the case for everyone?
Private or Public (birth)
- Thread starter Marbil
- Start date
Not likely to ever give birth but, if you can excuse my ignorance, I would suggest going for the public option. You get the same baby out of it and in the end you might even end up giving birth in a taxi forfeiting your cash to the private hospital. Sorry if that sounded insensitive.
I would see the public route as a slightly better option, given that you are not absoutely guaranteed a private room to yourself and may end up sharing with 1 or 2 others depending on availability anyway. The care is typically of the same standard (going on reports from new mothers,that is, I have not -yet- had personal experience of it!) whether public or private, and in many cases you may be attended to by the exact same staff. I'd think the money you save would probably be better put to helping you get over those few week's unpaid leave.
I'd agree with Rkeane - you end up with the same baby at the end of the day!
I'd agree with Rkeane - you end up with the same baby at the end of the day!
We had our first in Holles Street (semi-private), and my wife couldn't handle the ward. We had our second in Newry. We went private, but it is covered by VHI, and the consultant was excellent - no queuing and very sympathetic. We will definitely go back to Daisy Hill for the next few...
I think that public or private is irrelevant, in the case of a normal birth. If you have a section then you could be in the ward for the best part of a week, which could be hell.
I think that public or private is irrelevant, in the case of a normal birth. If you have a section then you could be in the ward for the best part of a week, which could be hell.
The option of private or public for maternity is much more than what room you stay in for the 3 nights.
If you go private, you are paying a consultant for ob care for the pregancy, this costs around 2.5K in Dublin, less in some other towns.
VHI cover most of the hospital fees but NOT the consultant fees.
You cannot book a private room, if you are a public patient.
There are a lot of different opinions on private versus public and if you
go to rollercoaster.ie you will find a lot of discussions but beware, it
is a very touchy subject for a lot of people. I know a lot of people who
were happy with both, and I know a lot of people who were unhappy.
You are not guaranteed a private room, even if you book one.
Ring the hospital and get a rundown of fees. Find out what a consultant costs and then decide what else you would do with the money.
good luck,
If you go private, you are paying a consultant for ob care for the pregancy, this costs around 2.5K in Dublin, less in some other towns.
VHI cover most of the hospital fees but NOT the consultant fees.
You cannot book a private room, if you are a public patient.
There are a lot of different opinions on private versus public and if you
go to rollercoaster.ie you will find a lot of discussions but beware, it
is a very touchy subject for a lot of people. I know a lot of people who
were happy with both, and I know a lot of people who were unhappy.
You are not guaranteed a private room, even if you book one.
Ring the hospital and get a rundown of fees. Find out what a consultant costs and then decide what else you would do with the money.
good luck,
It is also worth considering the pros and cons of private/public in the months preceding the birth. I have heard of public patients waiting 2-3 hours for scans and other appointments, whereas if you are paying a consultant for private care you are far less likely to be left waiting for this length of time (though of course the consultant might be called out urgently at any time). However, if you are doing combined care (where your visits alternate between the hospital and your own GP) this might be less of an issue for you.
Snork Maiden
Registered User
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- 132
Hi Marbil,
My sister recently had a baby in the coombe and went private. As it turned out she went into labour and had the baby very quickly during the night and the consultant did not have time to be at the birth.....however she was billed for the consultant even though he wasnt present and arrived 30 mins too late.
Following the birth she was left waiting for a bed. Two nurses stated that if she was prepared to take a public bed she would be settled into her ward asap but if she insisted on a private bed she would have up to a four/five hour wait......obviously she chose the public bed as a four hour/five hour wait wasnt appealling at 3.00 in the morning following delivery!
My point is there are no gaurantees that you will get what all the trimmings with a going private. However, my sister was delighted with the care and service she received during the pregnancy and during her stay.
Best wishes during your pregnancy whichever route you take!
SM
My sister recently had a baby in the coombe and went private. As it turned out she went into labour and had the baby very quickly during the night and the consultant did not have time to be at the birth.....however she was billed for the consultant even though he wasnt present and arrived 30 mins too late.
Following the birth she was left waiting for a bed. Two nurses stated that if she was prepared to take a public bed she would be settled into her ward asap but if she insisted on a private bed she would have up to a four/five hour wait......obviously she chose the public bed as a four hour/five hour wait wasnt appealling at 3.00 in the morning following delivery!
My point is there are no gaurantees that you will get what all the trimmings with a going private. However, my sister was delighted with the care and service she received during the pregnancy and during her stay.
Best wishes during your pregnancy whichever route you take!
SM
I've used the Rotunda semi-private, which is covered by the VHI standard plan, although there might be a small charge and thought it was great. There are up to four in the ward, bathroom / shower per ward, very clean, very good attention from nursing staff ie there is one in and out nearly all the time which is not true if you're in a room on your own. And on your first it can be reassuring to have some old hands around to let you know that most things are perfectly normal (maybe not pleasant...but normal!)
The care in the public ward would be the same but I thought that the semi-private seemed less busy when I went for visits. I never seemed to have to wait that long.
The very best of luck...whatever your choice your baby will be your baby and it'll be the start of a new life for you!
The care in the public ward would be the same but I thought that the semi-private seemed less busy when I went for visits. I never seemed to have to wait that long.
The very best of luck...whatever your choice your baby will be your baby and it'll be the start of a new life for you!
I also went semi-private in the Rotunda but spent the first night on the public ward as I was told there was no room in semi-private. It was very noisy and I didnt sleep all night. I enquired the next day about moving to the semi-private ward and was told that there were still no spare beds there. At 10pm on the second night I was told to pack my things as there was a spare bed in the semi-private ward. In fact it had been free earlier that day (and maybe even the night before) but the staff in the semi private ward did not pass this info on the the staff in the public ward. It seems they preferred to have fewer mums to look after!
golden mean
Registered User
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- 78
Edited as I have just noticed you are the mother and not the father- sorry!
As far as I can see the main advantage of private is that you don't have to wait long for outpatient appointments. If you are both going to sit around waiting for appointments and either or both of you is self employed you can count in the opportunity cost of your time and you might well opt for private on that basis.
Otherwise it depends on your own preference. The birth of your first child is likely to be emotionally as well as financially draining. It might be easier to anticipate the latter than the former!You might be glad of a bit of peace. afaik everyone can claim back their excess on MED1, so it does not work out as expensive as it looks, however do be aware that going private entails extra charges on top of what the consultant will charge you- you will have to pay private fees to other specialists too if you use their services (radiograoher, anaesthetist etc) Also, if baby needs any special care after birth they are (in most hospitals anyway) automatically regarded as a private patient if you are, and this could run up your costs too (eg if premature)
Good luck with it all
As far as I can see the main advantage of private is that you don't have to wait long for outpatient appointments. If you are both going to sit around waiting for appointments and either or both of you is self employed you can count in the opportunity cost of your time and you might well opt for private on that basis.
Otherwise it depends on your own preference. The birth of your first child is likely to be emotionally as well as financially draining. It might be easier to anticipate the latter than the former!You might be glad of a bit of peace. afaik everyone can claim back their excess on MED1, so it does not work out as expensive as it looks, however do be aware that going private entails extra charges on top of what the consultant will charge you- you will have to pay private fees to other specialists too if you use their services (radiograoher, anaesthetist etc) Also, if baby needs any special care after birth they are (in most hospitals anyway) automatically regarded as a private patient if you are, and this could run up your costs too (eg if premature)
Good luck with it all
golden mean said:
Even though I went private on both of mine each visit entailed a wait to see the doctor. They are regularly called away to deliver babies so this has a bearing on appointments.
AFAIK all gynaecologists will charge for the delivery whether they are present or not.
We went private on our first child in Holles St. 3k for Obs
Same Obs for every visit- never more than 15-20 min wait- meaning I could schedule it around my lunch hour.
She did mini-scans on every visit and spent time answering questions
Private room was available after birth
Obs attended birth as an observer- Generally the midwives deliver the baby.
Paid for 20 week scan
We have submitted a Med1 to recoup 42%
Semi-Private this time in Holles Street combined with GP care. Roughly 1- 1.5 hour wait. No scans each visit. Approx 5mins with Obs and her white wheel. Everything brusque. Paid for 20 week scan as above.
We had a look at the public ward and looked a bit of a cattle mart. They get the scan free.
I realise that in some areas you don't have the Semi-private option
If you can afford 1740 approx and you want a bit of empathy go private.
Same Obs for every visit- never more than 15-20 min wait- meaning I could schedule it around my lunch hour.
She did mini-scans on every visit and spent time answering questions
Private room was available after birth
Obs attended birth as an observer- Generally the midwives deliver the baby.
Paid for 20 week scan
We have submitted a Med1 to recoup 42%
Semi-Private this time in Holles Street combined with GP care. Roughly 1- 1.5 hour wait. No scans each visit. Approx 5mins with Obs and her white wheel. Everything brusque. Paid for 20 week scan as above.
We had a look at the public ward and looked a bit of a cattle mart. They get the scan free.
I realise that in some areas you don't have the Semi-private option
If you can afford 1740 approx and you want a bit of empathy go private.