Choosing your hospital

Maternity Hospitals by Region

Northeast & Northwest: the counties of Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Louth, Monaghan, Sligo, Meath

• Cavan General Hospital (Public)
• Letterkenny General Hospital (Public)
• Our Lady’s of Lourdes, Drogheda (Public)
• Sligo General Hospital (Public)

West: the counties of Galway, Mayo and Roscommon

• Mayo General Hospital (Public)
• University College Hospital (Public)
• Portiuncula Hospital (Public)

Midland: the counties of Laois, Longford, Offaly and Westmeath

• Midland General Hospital - Portlaoise (Public)
• Midland General Hospital – Mullingar (Public)

Dublin Region: the city of Dublin, and the counties of Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown, Fingal and South Dublin; Wicklow, Kildare

• Coombe Women’s Hospital (Public)
• Mount Carmel Hospital (Private)
• National Maternity Hospital (Public)
• Rotunda Hospital (Public)

South-East: the counties of Carlow, Kilkenny, Tipperary, Waterford and Wexford

• St Lukes General Hospital (Public)
• Waterford Regional Hospital (Public)
• Wexford General Hospital (Public)

Mid-West: Limerick, Tipperary, Clare

• Mid Western Regional Hospital (Public)
• South Tipperary General Hospital, Clonmel (Public)

South-West: Cork, Kerry

• Cork University Maternity Hospital (Public)
• Kerry General Hospital (Public)

Why not visit our Health Provider Search for more information on the hospital of your choice.

What does it mean to go private or semi-private?

Once you’ve confirmed that you’re pregnant it’s time to decide where you would like to give birth. Mums-to-be can choose to have their baby in a public hospital, a private hospital or at home.

1) Public Hospital

Most maternity hospitals are public hospitals and with private medical insurance you can opt for semi-private or private care, which covers both medical care and hospital accommodation.

Semi-private in a public hospital
If you choose semi-private care you will usually see the same Obstetrician (OB) for all of your check-up visits. As this option is fee-paying you should remember that your fee doesn’t include the attendance of your OB at the birth; if you need a doctor a Master of the Day on duty will take care of you. This rotates between all the consultants and so could be your OB from the clinic. Semi-private accommodation can be a 2 or 4 bed room. Hospital accommodation, costs are nearly €600 per day for semi-private accommodation. Aviva provides full cover for hospital costs in a semi-private room on all plans where medically necessary. Extras include anesthetist fees, ultrasound scans, pathology and pediatrician fees. Aviva provides cover towards all of these benefits on a grant-in-aid basis of €859.00.

Private in a public hospital
You’ll definitely have extra costs as a private patient in a public hospital! Extras include consultant fees and anesthetist fees, ultrasound scans, pathology and pediatrician fees. Aviva provides cover for all of these benefits. Hospital accommodation is typically 3 days; being private means a single room with ensuite toilet and bathing facilities. Meals are served in your room and there are menu choices. There are also televisions and phones provided. One big advantage is the peace and quiet you can receive from a single room. It’s important to remember that this private accommodation can’t be booked in advance and is usually allocated on a first come-first served basis. For this private accommodation, costs can be over €750 per night. Aviva provides semi-private cover on Level 1, fully cover for hospital costs on Levels 2-5, and makes a contribution towards the consultants, anesthetist, pathologist and pediatrician fees.

2) Private Hospital

If you decide on private care (either in a public or private hospital) choose your OB and book as early as possible. Some OBs only deliver in certain hospitals so make sure that your OB can deliver in the hospital you would like. Choosing to see an OB privately means that you’re given a specific appointment time and always see the same consultant in their private consulting rooms. You’ll be booked into the hospital by them so you won’t have to do that yourself. Your fee usually includes the presence of your OB at the birth but as always this isn’t guaranteed.

Aviva provides a grant-in-aid for members who choose to go a private maternity hospital i.e. Mount Carmel (Dublin), which goes towards both accommodation and delivery costs. You can expect to pay in the region of €5,000 for 3 nights in a semi-private room and €5,500 and upwards for a private room. Our grant-in-aid amount varies depending on the plan selected.

You’ll have to pay consultant’s fees as a private patient and they range from €750 to €4,000. Your health insurance plan with Aviva provides benefits for in patient consultant’s fees. This includes the consultant delivery fee for a normal vaginal delivery, anaesthetist’s fee for epidural, in patient pathologist’s fee and paediatric consultation. A c-section is fully covered, only where medically necessary.

3) Home birth

If you decide that a home birth is the right option for you, then the health board for your region contributes a maximum of €500 towards the cost of the birth. They’ll also give you a list of participating doctors and midwives.

Aviva also contributes towards the cost of a home birth. The amount varies depending on the plan selected.

What happens if I need a Caesarean Section?

Aviva always expects the unexpected that’s why in the event of significant complications or caesarean section delivery, we’ll cover you for normal in patient payments up to the level of cover within your plan. By covering you for every eventuality during the birth of your baby, can help give you more time to focus on having a happy healthy pregnancy.

How many hospital appointments do I have?

This figure varies completely depending on your health, your baby’s health and your hospital/consultant. At a minimum, mums-to-be can expect the following:

• Expectant mums normally see their own G.P. before 12 weeks of pregnancy
• Your first antenatal visit to the hospital is around 12 weeks of pregnancy
• Your first ultrasound scan about 12 weeks and again between 16 and 20 weeks of pregnancy
• The average number of antenatal classes is 4-6.

What role does the G.P. play?

Regardless of the type of healthcare that you ultimately end up choosing, you can choose the combined care of your G.P. and the hospital/obstetrician if they are part of the Maternity and Infant Care scheme. This means you rotate between visits to your own G.P. and the hospital/obstetrician. This scheme provides for free ante-natal care for expectant mothers and medical care for infants up the age of six weeks. For full details are available on the Citizens Ireland website.

Health members with Aviva on a day-to-day plan can receive a contribution towards G.P. fees if they are charged for these.

Will the hospital assign a consultant or can I choose?

This depends on your choice of care during your pregnancy. If you decide on public care, then you’ll see a nurse or midwife for check ups and a consultant if necessary. However, you don’t get to choose the consultant.

If you choose semi-private care then you will see a group of consultants at your hospital and could possibly have the same one throughout your visits.

Private care patients can choose their consultant and will see them for every visit required throughout their pregnancy.

Don’t forget that you can combine consultant and G.P. care as outlined above!

What about scans?

In early pregnancy an ultrasound scan is carried out when you’re around 12 weeks pregnant. The routine scan is most often performed between 16 and 20 weeks. Reasons for scan are:

• To check baby’s due date: Your baby’s measurements are taken to find out their due date. An ultrasound scan gives a more truthful date than one achieved by using a calendar or counting from your last period.
• To see how baby’s developing: Early signs that a baby isn’t developing normally can be detected by a scan. If this happens, then other tests will be carried out to either confirm or rule out anything suspicious.
• To check your placenta: Where the placenta is located is really important; particularly if it’s low lying as it could be in baby’s way for making their entrance!
• To see if you’re expecting twins or triplets or more! If you want to know the sex of your baby though you’ll have to ask, as the hospital won’t tell you or even write it down.

4D maternity ultrasound scans are becoming increasingly popular with expectant parents. You can experience the first images of your baby and even see their movements inside the womb! Aviva exclusively provides cover for 4D scans with Ireland’s leading imaging and scan centres - Ultrasound Dimensions (Dublin) and InnerVision Ultrasound (Mayo).

Antenatal classes and visits

You’ll probably attend antenatal classes from about 30 weeks. Antenatal classes will provide you with important advice on pregnancy, labour and delivery, and baby care. It allows you to discuss any concerns you might have with other expectant parents.
Antenatal classes are run by your hospital and you’ll need to ring them to book your place for you or for your and your partner. Some hospitals have classes for couples with special needs, you can find out about these by contacting your local hospital or health board. Or if you prefer, companies like Cuidiu, The Irish Childbirth Trust, provide private antenatal classes – visit www.cuidiu-ict.ie for details.Discussions are based on a whole range of issues such as:

Newborns free until next renewal

We’re delighted on the news on your new baby! To celebrate the new arrival, your newborn can have the same level of cover as you enjoy. This means that your child can be included free on your policy until your next renewal date. Now that’s great news!

All you need to do for your baby’s cover is pick up the phone and give us a quick call. If you include your baby before they’re 13 weeks old we’ll insure them from their date of birth, without any waiting or exclusion periods.

Visit our Going to hospital for a handy guide on what to bring with you and other things you need to know about your stay in hospital.