Hospital was like a war zone - people herded from one area to another only to be told "Move - you are in the way " Contradictory information given with regard to whether patent is to be admitted of not - Staff visibly stressed - patents visibly stressed - obviously sick patients ignored when requested help from staff.

Cleaning staff seem to be missing.

Everything about my stay at this hospital was top class. The staff are really excellent and a credit to their professions.

Most of the staff were friendly and caring, but it was an absolute disgrace that I had to wait 52 hours after my waters broke to get a bed in the labour ward, putting my baby at risk of infection. They insisted that they had too many emergencies and kept putting me to the back of the list and only for one doctor, I would probably still be waiting there. Special thanks also to midwife in labour ward Jenny who looked after me so well all night when I was in labour and the midwives on M3. They are worth their weight in gold.

Attended this hospital due to a recent miscarriage. I became very ill and spent four hours trying to contact the hospital by phone to ask for advice without success. Eventually attended hospital extremely upset. Reception was unattended. My partner went in search of a doctor/nurse only to be told to wait at reception. Waited 20 minutes in agony before receptionist turned up. Receptionist then referred me into the admissions unit. The nurse (who was obviously trained under Dr Mengeles instruction) was the most ignorant unsympathetic witch of a woman I have ever come across. She berated me five or six times for NOT RINGING IN ADVANCE. I explained I had been trying to ring the number on the website ALL DAY whereupon I was rudely interrupted and shouted at that I had been ringing the wrong number. Might I say at this stage that they were by no means rushed off their feet, in fact, two other nurses were standing there discussing how quiet it was. I was given a form to fill out and the nurse told me that they don't do scans on a Sunday so 'there's nothing we can really do for you'. She came back three or four times to tell me this. She then tested my urine sample telling me 'the first test showed a faint positive but the second one was almost negative' before ordering me back out to reception to watch all the happily pregnant women passing in and out as I waited for a doctor. The doctor was quite nice but as he prepared me for a cervical exam, in walks the nurse from hell with a huge Energiser torch which she proceeded to shine down between my legs as the doctor performed the examination. I had no dignity whatsoever left at this stage and was visibly upset. The doctor took a blood sample and the nurse barked at me to ring at around 4.30pm the next day for the results. I rang back the next day (this time using the correct number that I had been given) and again had trouble getting through. Eventually the phone was picked up, I was asked my name and a voice said 'your levels are low come back in Friday' and the phone was slammed down before I had a chance to say anything else. So, on top of everything else, I was expected to wait around for a week to find out if I had miscarried or not. It was the single most horrific and traumatic experiences of my life. This hospital, it's staff and procedures are an absolute disgrace.

The plan for my induction was done without explaining it to me or the reasoning behind why it was necessary. As it turns out it was not really necessary and I feel I was induced solely to fit in with the hospital plan. Staff were too busy and doctors were very inefficient. I feel there was no effort made to individualise care. All very routine and procedural. Will definitely not be choosing this hospital or birth plan again.

The staff on the ward were always 'too busy' to listen to me. I was told to 'just go to bed' while walking the corridor in slow labour at night. Although the midwives were mostly polite I found them reluctant to spend time on my queries. The students were the only people who devoted any real time to my care or who seemed to listen to me. On my emotional days where I had trouble with breast feeding (and lack of sleep) the student midwife constantly reassured me and helped me. If it had not been for her and the assistance of the lactation consultant I would not have successfully breastfed my son. I would go privately to that student if I have another child she was fantastic.

One nurse ruined our experience, it's a shame staff get away with this even when my son was getting his stiches inserted she then told me to leave the bedside area I refused how rude can these people get

I had my 3rd baby in Limerick Sept 2011.It was my 3rd csection and complicated so I was very frightened. The midwives om M2 were fab and very supportive as I was having my section under GA. They were very kind to me except for one staff member. She was unbelievably rude, totally dismissed my fears, made me feel stupid and told me I would never bond with my baby! The girls in theatre were absolutely brilliant especially Deirdre. All the girls on M2 especially Mary and a lovely midwife who worked at nights.

This is not a hospital. There are a small number of kind, caring helpful nurses however the nice experience that you have with them is quickly eradicated by nurses and midwives who seem to think that they don't need to have manners or treat people as human beings. Ladies, bear in mind that the cost of keeping you in this place for one night is equivalent to being in a 5 star hotel suite for 2 nights I know where I would prefer to be after having a baby...anywhere but this HOSPITAL!!!!

I spent over 4 months on bed rest in Limerick Maternity Hospital. Hated every single day there. Cried most of the time.

Sincere thanks to an ever hardworking & supportive team of individuals based at St Munchins Maternity hospital Limerick. Fantastic team work demonstrated.

Overcrowded,understaffed and antiquated hospital. My newborn baby contracted an infection 2 days after we got home.It cannot be outruled that it may have been hospital acquired due to the nature of the bacteria. Hope not to go there again..

Had a great experience in the regional maternity. The reception area slightly let the hospital down in that the desk was unmanned at some stages and the cleanliness of the floor was a bit poor. The furnishings were in need of maintenance eg bedside locker, paint on walls etc but otherwise the hospital is a credit to all the staff I came in contact with. A huge thanks.

Glad to go home after a long week but could not have asked for more, many thanks to all.

I am just out of the hospital after a two night stay and had to log on and show my appreciation to the staff at the maternity. I had to make several visits to the admissions dept in the last few weeks and not once did they fault in their care of me,false alarm or not. Throughout the pregnancy the clinic staff were faced with huge numbers but got through everyone with the minimum of fuss and when i was finally admitted the ward staff in M3,Labour ward and M1 were absolutely fantastic. Their care of me and my newborn were faultless,the wards were spotless and i have to say the food was gorgeous too! If i pressed the buzzer the staff were there within a minute or two,day or night with advice and help. Outstanding care.

I spent a lot of time in & out of the hospital with high bp after 32 weeks. Dr. Kate was fantastic at putting me at ease and doing what she could to help. The chinese doctor whose name I can't remember, would it be Wendy, she was so nice and I am grateful to her for her care both pre and post delivery. The midwife in the labour ward Emma for making it such a great experience and also the student who attended me before hand with Breda, everyone was so nice and friendly and made us feel very relaxed. I'd also like to mention student midwife Ruth who looked after me so well when I was in M3 on a few occasions. I think the staff in the maternity don't get enough credit for the fantastic job they're doing in the circumstances.

Food was horrible- most food burnt, was given chicken which was still pink in middle was cold and hospital was extremely dirty and beds were uncomfortable had to wait forever for a nurse to come to you when you really needed them. You were in a minimum 5 bed ward a nurse kept coming to me to change drip and she didn't have clue what to do i knew how do it myself after watching other nurses over all it was just really bad.

I arrived at this hospital as an emergency. I was treated by a very ignorant midwife who did not want to deal with me. I was put on a ward the following day and I was spoken to on more than one occasion in a manner that I was upset about but was in such a fragile emotional state that I could not complain.

Everybody helped make the experience of the birth of my first child a lovely experience. Right from the start at the antenatal classes to the pre-labour ward, labour ward, after-labour ward and neonatal. The staff are so dedicated but work so hard, it astonishes me. Everyone genuinely wants to be there and takes pride in their work. Everyone has time for you and listens and cares. I know where I'd go given the choice, Limerick Maternity.

Very professional staff, overall very positive experience.

All the staff practised the highest levels of nursing and care and do wonderful work in what is proven to be a very busy job and often go without the true recognition they deserve.

Absolutely excellent care from all staff throughout my pregnancy, labour and delivery. Still being looked after extremely well as my premature son is in neonatal where the care is excellent. Could not praise Dr Slavin and his staff highly enough. The care given throughout the whole experience was 100% and I cannot thank the staff enough for everything.

The whole experience was impersonal, and very little consultation.

I recently spent three weeks under the care of Dr Gerry Burke, his team of doctors and the staff on ward M3 with a very difficult and complicated pregnancy. I must say I received the most amazing care and attention from an extremely hard working team of dedicated people. Many thanks for looking after me during this time. I would also like to mention a special thank you to all the assistants, trainees, cleaners and dinner ladies and gents who are often forgotten about. Much appreciated.

I found the staff as helpful as could be under the circumstances of a very busy maternity hospital. However, I do not think that I received all the information I could have on leaving the hospital in terms of formula feeding as opposed to breast feeding and what to expect in the first few days home. I was also very disappointed with the help that I did not receive in relation to breast feeding. No lactation specialist ever came to me when I was struggling even though the midwives asked them to come several times.

I had my first baby in 2008 and was very impressed with the improvements made in the hospital this time around. Both myself and my baby received an excellent standard of care and all the nurses from admissions to the delivery ward were fantastic. Overall the experience was very positive.

I cannot express the how kind the staff were at Limerick Maternity Hospital. We suffered a massive loss, one we never got over. Every one of the staff members were/are amazing. The nurses and care assistants, the catering staff, the doctors, the cleaners, they all were truly amazing.

I had two children born here. Through two very long labours, I was repeatedly told to shut up. My second pregnancy was complicated and while in labour whenever I asked questions I was told I didn't need to know. I honestly wouldn't let the dog have puppies here. I miscarried a few years later and when I attended the admissions room I was horrified to see nothing had changed. After taking my details I was sent for an emergency scan where I had to wait four hours to be seen and then told that my baby was dead and to send the next person in. After being sent back up to admissions, I waited another two hours to bee seen by a doctor. I was told to stop crying and that one in four pregnancies end in miscarriage. My husband was not allowed stay with me in the admissions room. Though staff could see I was devastated I was offered no counselling. I was in agony and was offered no pain relief and we were sent on our way. After getting home my husband had to ring my GP and get a prescription for painkillers and it was my GP who gave us literature about miscarriage and told us what to watch out for afterwards. Each experience I've had here has been a nightmare, from arriving in labour to leaving with or without my baby. If people have an alternative option I would strongly recommend they choose it. This is not a pleasant place to have a baby.

Had a really good experience (one nurse brought down the score a little, but luckily I only saw her once when she said 'you are miles off having your baby'. Two hrs later I had my bundle of joy!). I was really looked after so well, helped with everything (breastfeeding especially) for a lovely birth and lots of support after.