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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Hospital bill - WWYD

171 replies

Dk20 · 28/05/2020 18:35

Not an AIBU but want to know WWYD.

In Ireland, we've been allowed to have socially distanced garden visits if someone lives less than 5km from you.

Me and ds visited dsis and her ds. The kids were playing in the garden, they bumped into each other while running and my dsis ds fell and cut his head. He had to go to a&e which resulted in a hospital charge for them.

Dsis has said not to worry as accidents happen with children, but I feel like I should pay for at least half of the hospital bill. In my situation WWYD?

OP posts:
PorpentiaScamander · 28/05/2020 23:21

TBH I've never really thought about what system they have in Ireland. The same as I don't know how the system works in Sweden for example. Or Russia.

I guess being as its so close to the UK I would have assumed it was the same.

OchonAgusOchonO · 28/05/2020 23:27

I guess being as its so close to the UK I would have assumed it was the same.

Really? I believe France is quite close too. Do you assume they have the same system too or is it just the usual English ignorance regarding Ireland?

MintyMabel · 28/05/2020 23:28

we can get a GP appointment within a day or so. Maybe get your facts right before you start slagging off.

I never wait more than a day or two to see a GP.

Hollyhobbi · 28/05/2020 23:29

I'm having great craic with my local hospital since the whole situation kicked off. In March I had 4 admissions to A and E for severe nosebleeds. Got 4 bills for 100 euro. My health insurance doesn't cover this unless I have 500e spent on medical bills already. You only pay for the first admission for the same condition so I rang finance and said I would pay the first bill. I was told that's fine and they'd get on to A n E about the others and getting them off the system. This Monday I got treating letters about the other 3 charges. They hadn't been removed at all. Yesterday I had my nose cauterised. Another 200e as this is a fully private hospital which my insurance doesn't cover. And I have no idea when the public clinics will be back up and running plus there would be people ahead of me so I don't know when I would have been seen. I had another nose bleed today but I got it stopped after 30mins of pressure on it so I avoided the A and E. My GP is €60 a visit. Op don't forget you can get 20e back from the 100eb as a tax refund at the end of the year. I wish things like Dr visits and meds were 20% cheaper though!

Hollyhobbi · 28/05/2020 23:33

Forgot to say if you leave the A n E before you are seen by a Dr in the A and E, you will get the 100 euro fee refunded. This happened my daughter earlier this year.

Davros · 28/05/2020 23:35

at least we can get a GP appointment within a day or so. so can we if we pay.
In fact, I can get one quickly if I don't pay, like many people in the UK

PorpentiaScamander · 28/05/2020 23:44

@OchonAgusOchonO I quite clearly said I've never really thought about it Confused
Not sure why/how I would know unless it was something I had come across before.
I also didn't realise Scotland had a different education system until I used Mumsnet. Purely because it wasnt something that had ever come up in conversation with anyone.

OchonAgusOchonO · 28/05/2020 23:48

@PorpentiaScamander - I quite clearly said I've never really thought about it confused

Yes, you did. But the assumption by many English posters that Ireland is part of the UK or that it's no different to the UK gets a bit wearing. I would be surprised if you made a similar assumption about France.

Gwenhwyfar · 28/05/2020 23:48

"In fairness Ochon (great username!) I can see why people are confused, it's so different to what they'd be used to in the UK."

But similar to the rest of the world so you'd have to be quite dim to be confused really. Not that many countries have a system that is free at the point of use.

Gwenhwyfar · 28/05/2020 23:49

"I don’t have trouble getting a GP appointment in the UK."

Yes, but many people do and you must have heard about that. It can be very difficult in some urban surgeries. I won't bore you with the complexities of how mine doesn't work.

Gwenhwyfar · 28/05/2020 23:50

"I never wait more than a day or two to see a GP."

Bully for you. It's not the same everywhere in the UK.

Musicforsmorks · 28/05/2020 23:53

i wouldnt bother trying to defend a paid health system.
i'm nhs and get to see the doc easily, have always experienced good care.
i'd be happy to pay higher taxes to improve it and keep it free.
it's the only decent thing left in the uk .

Musicforsmorks · 28/05/2020 23:55

love how posters are being rude just because someone didn't know about a different health system.
the panty liners are spinning tonight!

OchonAgusOchonO · 28/05/2020 23:59

@Musicforsmorks - i wouldnt bother trying to defend a paid health system.

Nobody is asking you to. The Irish health service has many excellent elements and many elements that could be improved significantly. Similar to the NHS in that regard. A country with a small

ColonelNobbyNobbs · 29/05/2020 00:00

You can see a private GP quickly in UK too. So no difference there. Not having to pay for routine (non emergency) appointments and repeat prescriptions is a godsend

OchonAgusOchonO · 29/05/2020 00:01

Pressed post by mistake.

A country with a small, widely geographically dispersed, population cannot afford to provide a completely free health care system. It's about balance.

ColonelNobbyNobbs · 29/05/2020 00:02

To answer the OP, no I don’t see why you should pay. Would you expect it if other way round? Nice thought to treat your nephew though Flowers

OchonAgusOchonO · 29/05/2020 00:03

You can see a private GP quickly in UK too.

Those on a medical card (approximately 40% of the population) don't pay for GP care and can see one as quickly as a private patient.

Destroyedpeople · 29/05/2020 00:04

All the shock about Irish hospital bills. ..did people not realise that it's a different country?

'Op you are very kind to offer. Maybe take them.out some time instead?

OchonAgusOchonO · 29/05/2020 00:06

@Musicforsmorks - love how posters are being rude just because someone didn't know about a different health system.

It's not because people don't know about a different system. It's the assumption of many English people that Ireland is either part of the UK or no different to the UK.

ColonelNobbyNobbs · 29/05/2020 00:08

I thought it was more like 30ish% now. Anyway I know which system I prefer!

Destroyedpeople · 29/05/2020 00:16

It's not really 'rude' its more surprise at the colonial mentality that assumes Ireland is just like the UK.
I mean...if it was France ...the other nearby different country , would there be this surprise?
No.

OchonAgusOchonO · 29/05/2020 00:19

I thought it was more like 30ish% now.

32% on a full medical card, 11% on GP only card. So over 40% in total.

ineedaholidaynow · 29/05/2020 00:26

In my part of England you normally have to wait 3 weeks for an appointment unless you are really ill, so not everyone can get an appointment in a couple of days.

Serin · 29/05/2020 00:29

What on earth are you all on about?

All these English people you are assuming are assuming things about Ireland.

Colonial mentality?

Jeez, it was a thread about an injured nephew and it's like you lot want to start a war.