For patients with worrying symptoms the first port of call is a visit to your GP for evaluation.   Your GP may start treatment with a prescription/medication or may recommend an endoscopy procedure to evaluate symptoms such as:

• Stomach pain
• Ulcers, gastritis, or difficulty swallowing
• Digestive tract bleeding
• Changes in bowel habits (chronic constipation or diarrhoea)
• Polyps or growths in the colon

Referrals to Endoscopy services are by Referral only. Select one of the consultants names above and download the relevant referral form for Direct Access Endoscopy Services provided by Dr Bennett, Prof Crowe, Prof Gorey, Dr Kelleher and Prof MacMathuna.

All other Consultants referrals can be made direct to rooms; contact details are available if you click on their names above.

About Endoscopy

The procedure is carried out using an endoscope – a flexible tube with a light and camera attached to it.  The camera allows your doctor to view pictures of your digestive tract on a color TV monitor.

An endoscope is passed through the mouth and throat into the oesophagus allowing the doctor to view the oesophagus, stomach and upper part of the small intestine.  This is known as a GASTROSCOPY or OGD  (oesophagogastroduodenoscopy)

Similarly, an endoscope can be passed into the large intestine (colon) through the rectum to examine this area of the intestine. This is known as a COLONOSCOPY (Full Colonoscopy) or SIGMOIDOSCOPY (Left-Sided Colonoscopy)

Insurance Cover

For the majority of patients endoscopy procedures are carried out as a day-case procedure.  The vast majority of insurance plans offer 100% cover for day-case procedures at the Mater Private.  Patients with no insurance cover also have access to the Mater Private and will be given a procedure cost estimate in advance of treatment.

At the Mater Private we are happy to help patients understand what, if any cost, they may incur for any procedure.  To do this there a few simple steps

(1)   Check the name of your plan

(2)   Check you plan number

(3)   Confirm with Consultant the procedure name

(4)   Call us on 01-885 8856 with the above details

Ultimately the patient is reposnible for understanding what level of cover you have, particularly as there are many variations of plans, many of which have an ‘excess’ included by the insurer.  All hospital accounts are required to be settled on admission.

• Vhi
• Quinn Healthcare
• AVIVA
• ESB Medical Provident Fund
• St. Paul’s Garda Medical Aid