Dublin's Mount Carmel Hospital, which is to close shortly, was rated by patients as one of the top four private hospitals in the country, according to irishhealth.com's Rate My Hospital league table.

In the latest Rate my Hospital ratings stable, Mount Carmel is in fourth position behind the Bon Secours Galway and Aut Even Hospital Kilkenny in joint first place and the Bon Secours Glasnevin in second position.

Mount Carmel, while it fell victim to the recessionary drop in private insurance cover  the cost of indemnifying private obstetrics and the proliferation of competing private hospitals in recent years, was nonetheless very popular with patients. 

The south Dublin hospital was rated higher in the patient ratings league table of 17 private hospitals than other centres such as the Blackrock Clinic and the Mater Private. Mount Carmel provided maternity as well as general surgical and medical care.

In the league table of both private and public hospital ratings, Mount Carmel is rated sixth in the country by patients.

The most recent comment about Mount Carmel on Rate My Hospital published earlier this month, praised the level of care at the hospital:"I had two babies in Mount Carmel 2012 and 2013, first was private 2nd I went semi private, both experiences were fantastic. I had the same Ob/Gyn for both and found her to be wonderful and the midwives were exceptional. I would also like to mention that the sonographer was amazing. I wouldn't hesitate recommending Mount Carmel for their outstanding care. We had lost a baby abroad in 2005, I was extremely nervous when I got pregnant in 2012, but my confidence grew and positivity due to the care and attention I received while in their care!! Would go there again without a doubt!"

However, just prior to its closure being announced, Mount Carmel and two obstetricians and two consultant obstetricians expressed sincere apologies at the High Court to the parents of a baby boy who died at the hospital  soon after his birth. The hospital and the consultants acknowledged fault in the management of the birth in 2008.

Mount Carmel said afterwards the most recent national audit of maternity unit treatment, published last October, into the death of babies in the weeks before or after birth found Mount Carmel to be well below the national average.

The hospital has gone into liquidation having been declared insolvent, with over €35 million in debts. More than 300 jobs are likely to go as a result of the impending closure.

Women due to give birth at the hospital in the weeks ahead are expected to be transferred to the three public Dublin maternity hospitals.

However, a less certain future faces the staff who are set to lose their jobs, particularly in the context of the current recruitment embargo in the public health sector.

Govt rejected buying Mount Carmel

Mt Carmel
1. RMH stats
2. Report on mat. Services
3. Pressure on hosps.
4. Birth rate still high
5. Tough times for private hosps-proliferation ad competition is growing
6. Public interest in Mr C- clearing waiting lists /subsidy of VHI subs and of indemnity insurance.
7. Patients inconvenienced- 300 people losing jobs the main worry.
8. *IHAI members include:
9. • Dublin: Bon Secours Hospital; Blackrock Clinic; Hermitage Clinic; Mater Private Hospital Dublin; Mount Carmel Hospital; Sports Surgery Clinic; St. John of God Hospital; St Patrick's University Hospital; St. Vincent's Private hospital; UPMC Beacon Hospital
10. • Kildare: Clane Hospital
11. • Kilkenny: Aut Even Hospital
12. • Waterford: Whitfield Clinic
13. • Cork: Bon Secours Hospital, Mater Private Hospital
14. • Tralee: Bon Secours Hospital
15. • Limerick: Barringtons Hospital
16. • Galway: Bon Secours Hospital, Galway Clinic
17. • Sligo: St. Joseph's Hospital
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19. Ruth Burnside
20. Director
21. FleishmanHillard | 15 Fitzwilliam Quay | Dublin 4 | Ireland
22. O +353-1-6188444 | DD +353-1-6188421| M +353-87-9967496
23. E ruth.burnside@fleishmaneurope.com
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