hi

that i would agree, but i went to my local TD and he got me seen to much sooner, i had to wait just a year.

So by closing nearly all of the smaller hospitals in the country and inevitably referring the patients that would normally attend the smaller hospitals to the larger ones listed above with already phenomenal waiting times, how is the problem to be solved?

What are the waiting periods if you have private health insurance? - usually a few weeks, depending on the discipline.

More private hospitals have opened recently, so private healthcare is faster for those who can afford it. This is a good service if you can afford it.

What do those who can't afford the insurance premiums do?

It would be really useful to know what the actual long-term plan for the HSE is.

Reform of the HSE will obviously take time but we need a positive plan to look forward to.

Ireland is a nice place to vacation but I'm glad I don't have to live there under a socialist medical system.

2,248 days!!!!!!!!!!! A person could be dead by then!

Wareen we don't live under a "socialist" medical system. Sweden however has a socialised medical care system that is world renowned as being the goal to aim for in health care. We have a lot to learn from them.

Six years is crazy. If someone can survive that long it is questionable if they need the appointment in the first place! Betty

Cash under the table or sucking up to your local TD always beats a wait.

Ireland never changes local T.D. interference (deplorable) still carries on. I wonder what happens the poor soul who did not support the local T.D. or his party especially if there is no imminent election.

hi

my husband has to wait till next august 2010 to be seen too for a heart specialist, now that is ridiculous

if your not seen within a 3 month period you have a right to go to the north or france or england .The h.s.e.have to pay for it.

Actually desmind, that ONLY applies to the NTPF  - for treatment not consultation and the Dr. has to refer you to the NTPF. It is a disgrace that consultancy waiting lists are that long tho'.

I'm waiting for breast reconstruction after breast cancer and I'm waiting and waiting and waiting. I am told one thing when I will be in, then it changes.

hi

that's a disgrace, I know it's not the hospital's fault, it's do to with the Government.

Hate to be the one to tell you but I waited 6 months for my operation and it was cancelled 6 times and yes I have private health insurance. But I believe cash is working well these days.

Hi Jenny, have you requested to be referred to the NTPF - that way you'll only have a couple of months to wait.

the ntpf is a very good thing but in my case they say it doesnt do breast reconstruction .so that leaves me back at the start ,im being passed from one person to another

Sorry to hear that Jenny. Would it help to go private?

Dont know but im on medical card and disability at the moment .i really dont think it makes a difference or at least it shouldnt

Dont see why it should-it's part of completion of original surgery.

Hi Jenny, ideally, it should not make a difference but I know for so many things medicla card patients seem to have a longer wait that anyone one else. It should be that way if we had an equitable system.

The problem with the Irish health system is that there aren't enough actually medical people in it. Too many pen-pushers.

Like everything in this country, overpriced and below par. Check below for some examples.

When a doctor has a problem finding a vein to put a cannula into ... It took the nurse 7 times to put it into my father's vein in a public Dublin hospital. It took the doctor 15 minutes to find the vein in a private hospital.

Half Private + Half public = A Broken System.

No public consultant should be allowed to perform private practice during public hours! At 220,000 euro (minimum) per year I think I would like them to work 9x5 Monday to Friday. I mean 9am not 9:30 or 9:45. 9:00am!

i had to wait 18 months for an outpatient neurologists appointment. i'm being seen for epilepsy and almost daily migraines. what would a person do if they went to their doctor to be referred to a neurologist for sudden persistent headaches if they were caused by a tumour? in a case like that the person could be dead before they ever even got the letter to say that an appointment has been arranged for whatever date. i was originally referred on the 19th of May2009 and got a letter in June 2010 to tell me that i would have my first appointment on the 6th of October2010....

my poor grandmother, who lives in Germany, started crying when i told her how long i had been waiting because she said that in Germany a person would never be kept waiting for a year and a half. the usual wait is about 2 weeks! and sooner if the symptoms suggest it could be something more sinister. 

the health care system in this country is a cemplete joke. since the government decided to "centralise" healthcare and take the services out of small hospitals the care has gone downhill something wicked.

The public health scam service.

Budget;15 billion Euros a year for what?

To provide a TROLLEY WAITING SERVICE FOR EMERGENCY PATIENTS THAT PRIVATE HOSPITALS DONT CATER FOR-nothing more.!