I was admitted through the ED Department after being referred from a residential unit, suffering from severe abdominal pain, nausea etc... I had previously been in the Lourdes for an unrelated issue and have noticed improvements. There was a short wait in the ED, 15 minutes or so, but once triaged things happened quickly. I was assessed quickly by nurses and doctors who were obviously under huge pressure, given IV fluids, pain relief and bloods taken. I saw a surgeon within one hour and he was exceptional. He explained possible causes, what tests would be carried out and what the results would mean. Although I was on a trolley for about 12 hours I was never ignored. To be honest I could see staff were very busy and so didn’t call them but every so often a nurse or doctor would ask me how the pain was, if I needed more pain relief, what to expect next etc... After bloods confirmed something was wrong I was given a bed on 1st Floor Modular. Wow, what a comfortable bed and the staff were just amazing. For the first day or two I slept most of the time but after that I enjoyed my time on the ward. From the man who cleaned to the woman serving the food, the nurses, doctors and other patients, everyone had a joke and a laugh. This atmosphere made such a difference to what would otherwise have been a very difficult and perhaps scary time for patients. I had so many blood tests, scans, IV antibiotics etc... but all done quickly and professionally. At all stages I was fully informed of my progress, the next tests, what to expect etc... Mr Majeed and his team are exceptional. They are thoroughly professional, empathetic, and above all they are very, very nice people. Overall my experience at the Lourdes was exceptionally positive. Of course there are things I could complain about, small things. After all I wasn’t booking into a five star hotel. Of course waiting times could be improved, we all have a skewed perception of time when we’re ill. Of course a small minority of people will throw litter on the floor or dirty a toilet. What impressed me were the improvements over the past few years. Obviously management are listening and are actively trying to solve problems. Given that there are so many departments it’s not surprising that occasionally there may be a glitch or delay but overall I personally believe they are doing a fantastic job. Hospitals have limited budgets which have been savagely cut in recent years. Perhaps, instead of complaining to individual hospitals about staff shortages or delays for tests, people should express their anger at those responsible, the politicians. I will certainly be writing to my local politicians to express my views regarding the continued underfunding of health services. Finally, I would like to say a very sincere thank you to everyone at the Lourdes. You are all, in your own unique way, truly amazing. Thank you.

My son attended ED for the second time in a week The first visit ended without him seeing a doctor as we left after six-hour wait. I felt my son was not sick enough to be there and yet there was nowhere else to go as the GP sent us to ED. The second time we were seen in two hours, tests done quite quickly, fully explained, everyone was kind, admitted to a modern clean ward. Discharged after three days, could not fault care.

I was admitted into hospital due to reduced movement at 38+6 days pregnant. At the time I was having contractions from 6.30 on a Monday morning but the midwife refused to give me any painkillers or support from admission that evening and throughout the night. She kept saying I would have to wait until I was in active labour. At 3am I was vomiting, 4am I couldn't lie on the bed and by 8am I was having huge pressure. It was a horrible night I felt so on my own and like I was being treated like a child. When the midwives changed shifts, a new midwife finally examined me to discover I was 9cm and ready to push. I felt I couldn't make a noise throughout the night and as if I was being treated like a drama queen by the midwife on duty. Luckily I had a straightforward birth and my son was born that morning perfectly healthy. I felt and still feel so angry that my husband missed my entire labour and had to rush to the hospital so he didn't miss the birth of our first child. The delivery and aftercare I received was excellent but the midwives on duty before have a lot to learn in treatment and care of patients.

I had a very complicated c-section and felt the aftercare in postnatal ward was not adequate. Especially when compared to pre-care in antenatal and the labour ward, both of which were outstanding. I had to chase medication, blood tests and pain relief constantly in postnatal. Normal hospital beds are not suitable for pain after section, electric high low beds are needed. Bathrooms are not designed for us, toilets are too low. Lack of shelves in shower rooms means a lot of bending. Food overall in the hospital is horrendous.

Very happy with treatment received.

I have private health insurance. I was taken to a ward for 3 people, with me in the middle. I don't call that semi private. There was no bathroom in the room, had to be taken out to use the bathroom. The food was just fit for dogs, no chair for my husband to sit on as the beds were so close. TV in the room but you had to pay to use it. I asked to see the Bed Manager but was told they only work three days a week, so I never say them. I was told it cost 900 euro a night for my health insurance In what I would call a public ward.

I attended paeds A&E with my baby. Was seen quickly through triage. One staff member was very abrupt. Was transferred quickly to paeds ward. Night staff nurses excellent. I did not find the day staff helpful. Not once did they offer me a cup of tea. I wasn't allowed to leave my baby unattended, which I know is important, but I asked the nurse if possible a HCA or student might sit with my daughter until I went to get a cup of tea. She said no. I know they can be busy but you'd think there might be a quick chance to give a parent a quick break. Luckily we only had to stay over night. I had to wait until discharge to go and get something to eat. So approximately 12 hours I had nothing to eat and was not offered anything.

Excellent maternity staff in general. I really felt cared for and supported from the moment I entered the hospital until I left. Thank you all!

Overall great hospital, excellent facilities and great nurses and doctors, especially in A&E.

All the staff, nurses, carers, cleaners and doctors were so caring and kind. It's a pity the HSE don't give them a little more time to just chat a little. More information could be gleaned from a patient and a quicker holistic diagnosis could be made.

Wonderful care given to my six year old son after falling and sustaining an injury to his knee. Very helpful and very patient and caring staff. So helpful and explained all to my son and me so well. Brilliant care and so appreciated.

I spent 11 hrs in the A&E during which time I had blood tests, X-rays, examined by four doctors, prescribed drugs and released. Good result.

The worst hospital ever.

This is a hospital totally mismanaged. The staff are dreadful. I was dragged across the floor on a commode after surgery crying in pain. Plus the hygiene standard is very poor.

This was my second visit to Emergency Department in two months. There seemed to be much less pressure on the department this time. There seemed to be better systems in place.

I was admitted after sustaining serious fractures. The staff nurses were arrogant and mean to patients. I was pulled across a hall on a camode with my fractures hitting the ground to use the toilet. I was never washed in 11 days, just had to wipe myself with a cloth. This hospital has serious issues to address regarding patient care and respect

My discharge was done by an intern and was not particularly helpful. I was given a script for pain meds, antibiotics and a OPD appt. Where are the information sheets? Where are helpful tips about post-op wound care? Or any side-effects of the general anaesthetic that would have been helpful to know? (e.g. night sweats). When I had a baby, I was given a LOT of advice/care upon discharge - no such care as a general surgery patient, which was disappointing.

Toilets in A&E were not up to standard due to being dirty and flushers not working correctly, this should be easily rectified. Also, more importantly, I had to endure a five-hour wait in an overcrowded A&E waiting room while in extreme pain, before I saw a doctor, although pain relief medication was given to me. Once admitted the service was first class with all staff kind and professional. I spent the night on a trolly in a corridor but this did not have a negative impact on my experience.

Weeks later and I have been passed from pillar to post from hospital to hospital. Went in with an injury. 3 weeks later and have still not been told my diagnosis. Have now been split between three hospitals. Feel like I'm talking to a brick wall and that no-one gives a damn and I'm passed from person to person. All I want is a diagnosis.

I will be writing a full formal letter to hospital, but my doctor was atrocious.

Dad was on Ortho, and the care was exceptional. He was then moved across the hall to Surgical. The care there was also excellent - Dad began to deteriorate soon after but was looked after very well indeed. He was then moved up to sixth floor where he passed away shortly after. The nurse there was also exceptional. She had a sixth sense and was there with us at every opportunity she could. I wasn't ever left to feel 'alone' - and I have no negative comments to make about the care received.

Overcrowded and dangerous, very poorly managed. Do not send your loved ones to this place. It is terrible and not fit for purpose.

Received excellent care throughout pregnancy and during birth. Fantastic maternity services here.

3rd world hospital. Needs more doctors, qualified nurses and more beds.

Dreadful experience. Left on trolley or in chair for many hours. Only food was toast.

My only disappointment with the hospital was with one of the staff members at reception. My 3 year old had a severe cut to her leg and was bleeding through her bandages at reception onto the floor. When we finally got the attention of the bored lady behind the desk she looked at the floor and then rang for someone to come and clean the floor. The terrified child did not come into it. However from the moment we went into the paediatric emergency department until the day we left (4 days later ) the staff were exceptional!! I could not thank them enough. They really looked after her in every way possible. For this my family cannot thank you enough and I would recommend this hospital to anyone!

Parking and getting my mother into the hospital was the problem. We were literally ROARED at 'not to park at the door' - though it would be five mins to get her inside. She'd had a cast put on her leg, but despite this I was forced to park elsewhere, come back to get a chair, go back and park in everyone's way to get her out into the wheelchair, move the car back in to its spot, then walk into the hospital - it was freezing and wet and windy, my mother was frozen and extremely intimidated as we'd now held up other drivers - some who were not at all pleased. All because the security man was so rude he would not let me do this at the door and I'd have been gone in five mins and could have come back in to bring my mother to fracture clinic.

I was in A&E on a Sunday afternoon. It was packed out, the booking system was so slow and they were not in a hurry to book people in either. I was an hour there before I was called by triage nurse. She asked me everything I had told at the desk again. I had sprained my ankle five days before and I was concerned about my ankle bone. She asked to look at it and I said ok yes. She said can you lift it up for me. I said no I can't. She didn't even get up of her chair to look, she asked me to pull up my trouser leg to see. She said go back out, you may need x-rays, the doctor will tell you. I waited a further three hours before I left. When I informed the desk I was going, the person there told me 'well you did come in after 3, it is always busy'. This is our health service. There were 5 people there who were loud and trashed the seating area with rubbish and litter. There were also elderly people left sitting for hours on end. It's a disgrace. There should be a better way of treating people to get them in and out, like better triage. Elderly people should have a better service too. The hospital is a disgrace. There was no hand sanitizer in the four pumps at entrance and the loos were filthy. The check-in desk needs to be more efficient. The triage nurse's room is too small and there should be more than one triage nurse to speed up the treatments and more than two doctors too. Lastly, when the patients were being called you could not hear the name - it needs a total PA system, as well as a complete waiting area overhaul.

I submitted a written complaint regarding hygiene or lack of it and the lack of privacy. The response did nothing to encourage me to go back there.

There is a poor match between surgery slots and bed availability. We rang on the morning of a planned elective surgery, for which we had waited nearly six months (and that after a 10 month wait to even see the specialist!), to be told that although the surgeon and the theatre were ready, there was no bed!! Surely this is a huge waste of money! However, despite this, the staff on the ward were brilliant and told us to come in and they would try to find a bed which they did - thank goodness, because if we had had to wait for another slot my daughter would have been out of paediatrics and with almost no hope of ever getting the operation as an adult! The nurses as I said were fabulous keeping us informed and updated about progress, they were kind, helpful, efficient and professional. Most of the doctors were also the same with the exception of one doctor whose name I could not find out, who was very dismissive and did not speak to the patient directly once, nor did he make eye contact but just stood at the end of the bed, pronounced a medication and disappeared without having made any sort of an examination or asked her how she was feeling. In general a good experience with one unavoidable problem due probably to the lack of investment in our public health system, and one avoidable problem - please train all doctors to have a better bed-side manner not just make it the luck of the draw whether you get a good one or a bad one!