David B.
I visited the Hermitage Clinic Dublin…
I visited the Hermitage Clinic Dublin on 5 June. My GP assessed my likelihood of DVT as low and, as a precaution, referred me for a D-dimer blood test. I waited 6 hours despite being told it would be much quicker. I'd reasonably expected to be seen in half that time. The consultant was somewhat abrupt, chastising me for missing his first call; despite my having been told by the clinic they would call me back in when it was my turn. When I received no call, I decided to ring the ER and was told to come back in as I was next and then had to wait another hour to be seen. Within 10 minutes of arriving, the focus was on the €700 prepayment rather than my health. The D-dimer came back negative which, combined with a low pre-test probability, would normally rule out DVT without further imaging. Yet, I was still recommended an ultrasound. I was told my the consultant he would ring me within 24 hours and that an itemized receipt would be issued in the following days. A month later, I've received neither. I lodged a complaint over 10 days ago with no real response apart from an acknowledgment of such. I believe the ultrasound had more to do with billing than patient care and the ongoing silence since only reinforces that.