Service users have voted Dublin's Mount Carmel private hospital as the country's best maternity unit, according to the first national league table of maternity services, published by irishhealth.com's Rate My Hospital.

However, only one of the three major Dublin maternity hospitals, the Rotunda, is among the top five units in the country in the new maternity service ratings table, with University Hospital Galway propping up the table in 19th place.

Nearly 25,000 service users have now rated hospitals around the country on the international award winning Rate My Hospital website.

With Rate My Hospital, service users are asked to rate hospitals on a scale of one to five under specific quality of care. This involves them filling out of a detailed 23-part questionnaire and identifying the specialty under which they were treated.

The newly-published figures are based on ratings of over 3,300 service users who rated obstetric care on Rate My Hospital, which is the only patient-driven hospital ratings service.

The top five maternity units in the league table, in descending order are Mount Carmel (the country's only private maternity unit); Portiuncula, Ballinasloe; Cavan General; the Rotunda; and South Tipperary/Wexford General (joint fifth place).

The bottom five units, in descending order, are: Our Lady of Lourdes, Drogheda; Holles Street; Waterford Regional; Letterkenny General and University Hospital Galway.

The full league table and percentage scores are as follows:

1. Mount Carmel - 89%

2. Portiuncula - 78%

3. Cavan - 76%

4. Rotunda - 75%

5. South Tipperary (Clonmel) 74%

6. Wexford - 74%

7. Mullingar - 73%

8. Cork Maternity - 72%

9. Portlaoise - 72%

10.Mayo - 71%

11.Kilkenny - 70%

12.Sligo - 68%

13. Coombe - 68%

14. Limerick - 67%

15. Drogheda - 67%

16. Holles St - 65%

17.Waterford- 63%

18. Letterkenny - 62%

19. Galway - 62%

Mixed reviews for maternity care