I believe that dollar signs rolled in the consultants eyes when I mentioned private insurance. I was kept in for 2 weeks and spent at least half that twiddling my thumbs. Got NO results of tests and no explanations of what was (and still is) wrong with me. Had 2 consultants, one of whom told me I could pack and go home. I then waited for to hours only to have the nurse tell me that the other guy also had to discharge me. Luckily enough the guy's team was on call. AND a week later a piece of medical equipment that I was NEVER informed about arrived to my door. EXTREMELY POOR COMMUNICATION!!

Cleanliness & training need serious attention. I had a private room and I feel I was treated poorer than public patients as my room was rarely visited by nurses - I had to ring the bell if I needed anyone and I simply feel that the bell should be for serious matters. My room was not clean prior to my admittance with full bins being the most obvious sign. In my 3 days there no-one cleaned / washed the floor in my room. A lot of trainee nurses on duty and immediately after I gave birth, I was sent for my shower with a trainee nurse who put my towel and nightie on the floor in the bathroom beside the toilet - yes, floor beside toilet - I nearly keeled over. What hope is there when trainees do this in front of patients?

My father has spent a couple of months in this place. As a nurse, I can say that the levels of competence was shocking and at times dangerous! We asked for a transfer to a Dublin hospital where the care to date has been second to none and he is making steady progress. We fully intend to follow up with a complaint through the official channels.

Don't go to this hospital especially if you have VHI or other health cover. VHI Swift Clinic in Cork is but an hour away and you are seen and treated in one hour. 5/6 hours in Limerick Regional, if you're lucky or 5/6 hours in St John's Limerick, its easy to see the logic in going to Cork. On entering the two Limerick Hospitals you are greeted with a sign 'waiting time' 5/6 hours and charged £100, it's all you want on top of your illness or injury. I waited three-and-a-half hours for an ankle x-ray at St John's Hospital. Being a diabetic I had no choice but to leave without treatment for my injury or even seeing a doctor because I had to have proper food and take my insulin. I complained and was spoken to by a staff member who explained a rather discrimating type of categorisation saying that the nurse who assesses you initially categorises your symptoms and puts you in urgent, not urgent or like me, forget about her. Children and people with heart disease etc... are seen first. I have two stents in my heart and diabetes yet I had to leave in pain. It's about time the community of people asserted themselves and demanded a proper service, it is a right not a priviledge. The service in Limerick is Third World to say the least. Thank God for Bon Secours Hospital Cork and Tralee.

Excellent care and attention

I wish to put on record how well our father is being treated in the new medical unit in this hospital. The care and dedication of the ward sister and her staff must be noted. We as a family would like to thank you all for the wonderful nursing care that has him back on his feet and ready for discharge.

The first time I was admitted to St Michael's I was put in the men's ward with no privacy in the washrooms. I was in a room with frightened, ill and elderly women who were treated as if they didn't have a voice and were wasting everyone's time complaining when they asked questions. The hospital was dirty (soiled underwear under my bed, dusty and very dry and hot (great for respiratory) and I was given the wrong amount of medication and then when I told the nurses that I thought something was wrong with the IV as it really was hurting, was told :"It's nothing!" until 15 minutes later my arm was a balloon and there was blood all over the bed. After an hour sitting on the bed and no changes, I went down the hall, got new sheets and made my own bed. The elderly patients were constantly told "STOP worrying, the doctor has been called and is coming any minute" (even at 3 am.) and I felt like asking for help to get out of bed was an imposition. I have never seen such dirty, unsupervised and dysfunctional treatment in any hospital before. 2nd occasion at St. Mikes. I went to the walk-in clinic and was immediately sent to A&E by the doctor who said I needed treatment and tests. There were only two people in A&E when I went in, both walking around and talking. I was treated abruptly by the nurse, and then the doctor asked "What would YOU like me to do to make you feel better? Would you like an X-ray?". I was appalled. I was in respiratory distress, dizzy and weak from little sleep during the last few nights and I was sent down to X-ray. I waited an hour and a half in a darkened room that appeared to be shut for business with a pole in my arm waiting for someone to come. The chain of commmand kept blaming down the line, but I had to wonder - only two people in A&E and NO ONE thinks to ask where I went or why I still wasn't back for X-ray after an hour and half. Thank god my situation was not and did not turn critical.

I have a wonderful team of doctors who looked after me when I got cancer 2000 after my baby, then it came back again in 2002-3 i had 68 lynph nodes removed out of them 35 were infected with the first cancer my doctors were mr Liam Grogan oncology Mr Barry Gogan , gynaecology, Mr Richard Sheehan cardiology , I am alive today because of them. I go to Sweden once a year , as Ireland do not deal with this cancer. I want to live to see my daughters grow up with out these three consultants I would be six feet under. I would love to tell my story to someone feel free to contact me. Thank you very much for letting me write this. Very kind regards Martina Halpin

The team in A&E Paed's was highly competent. Also, Paed's surgery theater staff were superb, putting my child at ease... Was a little unhappy with lack of explanation as to what exactly was done during surgery, would liked to have had more detail from doctors/nurses. I asked as many questions as i could think of but felt they may have been a little reluctant to give me answers????

A general careless attitude from floor and admin staff. In relation to complaints, none are taken seriously, all issues are denied with stone faced replies. The attribute of caring is non existent.