My daughter was recently admitted after an accident. She was on holiday and the care and treatment…read moreshe received was outstanding. We are eternally grateful to the surgeons, plastics,physio, nurses and staff who took excellent care of her. The leech treatment and skill of the team saved her thumb. Thank you

Worst emergency room experience ever. Half the staff was rude and the other half were so distracted…read more(by their coworkers) that they neglected the patients who were in excruciating pain and trying to be nonverbal. Making lame excuses for me not accompany my partner while she waited for care. People smoking cigarettes at every entrance right next to the sign that says no smoking. Maybe it is because I'm used to a different level of health care? First and last trip to Ireland if this is what their health care system is like.

To all the staff and management at the Galway clinic. From…read morethe moment I arrived at the A&E Dept in the Galway clinic I was looked after immediately in the most professional and caring way anyone could ask for. I had an Mri scan and referred to Dr Odhran Murray. Top class most caring and a total professional in every way. He went way and above what was required to get me the urgent care I needed. Examined me carefully and listened to everything I had to say. He thoroughly explained the serious problem I had and gave his very professional advice. I felt immediately he cared and I could trust him with my life. He also a thorough gentleman someone you can relate to immediately. He is a credit to his profession and a top class surgeon. Go raibh míle maith agat Odhráin beidh mé fíor bhuíoch duit í gcónaí. Rath Dé ort agus do chlann í gcónaí. To all the staff in the Orthopedic unit nurses, admin, theatre staff, and catering staff for the thorough caring and professionalism care I was given. I will be forever grateful to you all. You all are a credit to the Galway clinic and I could not speak highly enough of you all. Go raibh míle maith agaibh uilig agus guím gach rath oraibh i gcónaí Pádraig Ó h-Éanacháin Tuar Mhic Éadaigh Co Mhaigh Eo.

My dad works here so I come here quite often as both a patient and a medical student. The hospital…read moreis extremely clean and well kept, one of the best private hospitals I've ever been to, and an exact replica of the Hermitage in Dublin. The hospital itself is architecturally beautiful with a grand piano, Japanese garden, Harry Potter-esque chess set in the garden, carpeted halls for the consultants suites etc. They have also built a new two story car park which is very handy as it was so difficult to find spaces before. Buses leave to and from the hospital to the city centre and Newcastle every hour from just outside the entrance, and inside they have an ATM, chapel, pharmacy, newsagent and a post box. I have the physiotherapy services a few times for my knee injury and another issue with my elbow and found them excellent, very knowledgable and professional. They also have Shockwave therapy for tendonitis and plantar fasciitis which I found quite effective albeit sore. All the doctors I've seen here were excellent and gave a proper examination instead of rushing though like what I find in public places. I usually get an appointment straight away via my dad, or otherwise within a week or two. However, different consultants have different wait times, but it's usually no more than a week or two in general. Clinic waiting times also vary, I've waited 30 mins for one consultant and over an hour of another. Earlier in the morning the less you have to wait as there's less people and risk of delays in front of you. The MRI services are another thing which I've used a number of times, and it's all very efficient and on time. I never waited more than 5 mins from my appointment time, and VHI covers MRI as well. The Emergency department is only open from 10am to 6pm on weekdays and 5pm on weekends and holidays, so if it's the night you would have to go to UCH I'd say. As a student on the wards, I must say it's quite luxurious and almost like a hotel! Patient's get a mini TV and radio attached to their beds which is something you would never get in a public hospital. Its a lot quieter and the wards are not overrun by students. The food in the cafeteria is, like all hospitals in my opinion, not great. I can never understand why hospitals encourage healthy eating yet serve mostly unhealthy things. The salads and sandwiches are pretty standard, as in caesar salad and a deli bar but the main courses dishes are all quite greasy and not exactly "heart friendly". A lot of meaty and greasy stuff, but they do have a hit and miss salad bar. Overall: Good quality care and you indeed get what you pay for Quality of care: 5/5 Facilities: 5/5 Price: Exorbitantly expensive unless you have full health insurance. But be prepared to pay consultation fees upfront and claim later, which vary between and consultants but are around €150 for a regular consultation and cheaper at follow ups. Physio is €60, and A&E is €150. Food: 2/5 Access: 3/4- a pain to get to unless you drive as the buses are very infrequent.

Merlin Park is an old TB Hospital from the fifties, hence it's absolutely massive, and largely…read morefallen into disuse. Or at least it looks that way. I was only here the once. The wind was a howling, the rain was driving, and I couldn't for the life of me figure out which of the dozen odd buildings I was supposed to be in. Isn't that how most horror films start? Access is tricky, even with the bus this hospital has a very long driveway, so take the car. The Caf? Maybe it has one, I honestly couldn't tell you. The complex is so intimidatingly large that you'd have a hard time finding anything.