Absolutely disgusted at my care. I've contacted the hospital to say I never want to be treated by my consultant again. Feel manipulated and lied to. Feel sorry for anyone who has or will have treatment from this doctor. Never setting foot in here again.

Horrendous experience from start to finish. Was admitted early and left for three days because no one could get me a scan. Was not seen by my consultant once in that time even as he passed me to see other patients in the ward. Three failed attempts were made to give me an epidural during labour and after hours of screaming and begging for help I was rushed to the operating theatre for a section. Thankfully I did not need a section and was able to push baby out myself after a spinal tap. Post labour was just as bad, left on the bag for over 24 hours. IV drip left on me unchecked for hours. Breastfeeding interrupted to give baby bath and then told couldn't be done on arrival to the room as he was on IV also. Absolutely third world treatment, was shocked and appalled by it and dread the day I may have to return for another birth.

I attended Holles St. during my first pregnancy (baby born in April 2015) and am currently attending for my second baby, due in November as a public patient (combined care). 1. Building (outpatients/antenatal care). The facilities leave a lot to be desired. The whole hospital building structure is old and doesn't inspire much confidence, with the exception of the Foetal Medicine Unit on the second floor where you are given the anomaly scan around 18-20 weeks, where the general ambiance is modern and the facilities look state of the art. If you attend as a public patient you usually have to queue for a minimum two hours with another 40 women approx. to see the midwife, give a urine/blood sample and have a very speedy scan. The staff (midwives, nurses, doctors) are very competent, some may/may not be too sympathetic, it just depends on your luck. The whole antenatal appointments routine feels (as many friends also commented) like being a cow in a cattle market. 2. Antenatal classes. For first-time mums the hospital offers a set of classes (maybe 6/8?) to which partners can attend too. The midwife and physiotherapist are competent but I didn't feel I learnt anything more that I had found reading online. 3. Delivery. I personally had the silly idea of bringing my chart at home after the appointments, and ended up going into labour as I was out on errands - with no chart on me, obviously. I was lucky enough to be near the hospital itself, but they wouldn't admit me, visit me, nor give me any sort of basic pain relief until my husband arrived with my chart, despite the excruciating pain (I ended up delivering less that two hours later; thankfully husband was at home and grabbed the chart and hopped in a taxi). Delivery was medically unassisted (I was concerned about the possible use of forceps) and I had two midwives with me, one of them a student, plus a senior midwife after delivery to give me sutures. I felt that the student was more empathetic and tried to comfort me in my distress, while the other repeated at me not to shout as I was wasting my energies (try that when you dilate from 1 to 7cm in half an hour). I had a birth plan that wasn't even looked at until I pointed it out (after baby was born). 3. Stay in the hospital. I was admitted for 4 days instead of the standard 3, because I stated that I wanted to exclusively breastfeed but I was struggling with it. They preferred to keep me a day extra to be sure I was managing, and I appreciated the concern. A bit disappointed that the shop in the hospital did not sell latch assist suction cups, that were recommended to me by the nurse in the ward to facilitate the breastfeeding, which husband had to hunt for while I was nerve-wrecked because I couldn't feed the baby. The stay in the ward was pleasant enough (considering you share with other women who may be chatting loudly on the phone through the night while you are trying to recover and deal with a crying newborn), again the younger midwives/nurses/staff felt very empathetic while the more senior staff felt a bit more brisk. 4. Other. No parking in the hospital, expect to pay 2.90€ an hour for on-street parking in the area; when attending for antenatal care you may be splashing nearly a tenner in parking. Great food, unexpectedly! All in all, despite the poor look of the facilities, the 'cattle market' feeling at the antenatal checks and some brisk staff, they know what they are doing and baby's safety was never a concern for me. I can well imagine that they are understaffed/overworked and manners sometimes get lost along the way, but baby gets priority for me and I am happy to trust them again with baby number 2.

I would say if you have any choice do not go here, the staff are some of the worst, the way they treat you and the way they explain anything is just awful. I am so disappointed with this hospital, puts a bad taste in my mouth for the birth of my child. I will be looking to lodge formal complaints and I highly recommend to not use this hospital unless it is required. If you do have to go then enjoy getting no information without asking and enjoy the midwives utter lack of any form of respect. They seem to hate their jobs. There has not been one visit where we left happy with them and we often left in a fowl mood.

Doctor was a disgrace, turned up 30 minutes late, was indifferent and cold. Totally ignored the fact that I was very very distressed. Despite repeatedly saying the doctor was hurting me, they made no effort to comfort me or stop the procedure. I was not a human being, just another cervix. Angry is not the word.

I gave birth there in August 2015 and I was very pleased with the amount of attention, care and help we received. I would recommend it to anyone.

Having any form of surgery can be nerve wrecking however my doctor definitely put my mind at ease. He provided outstanding care and I felt well informed throughout - from where I was on the list for surgeries, to what the surgery would entail and also a detailed account of how the surgery went. I felt well looked after and in good hands.This was only reinforced by how well the nurses treated me and ensured I was comfortable throughout my stay.

I thought it was a bit strange that the bedsheets weren't changed in the two nights I was there after giving birth. The food was served at the end of the bed where I couldn't reach without pain after giving birth and the table didn't move. Breastfeeding support could have been a bit more consistent. The manner in which patients were asked to leave to free beds for new patients could have been a bit friendlier. And when mums and babies (and dads) did get ready to leave they had to wait a long time before being discharged.

Since I got pregnant with my first baby in 2016 I was going to NMH. I can say really good things , but as well really bad things. 1. I was attending antenatal classes with my partner, they were very good for my partner to understand the labor and more about babies. I didn't learn anything new which I couldn't read. 2. In one of the antenatal classes midwife asked everyone who is going to have epidural and who is against it. I said I am against it and she almost attacked me and made me feel not really well. She explained of course why I should have an option of epidural, but the way she explained it was just really not nice. 3. Physiotherapy classes were great! I learned a lot. Especially because I have scoliosis, this was very helpful. Plus the physiotherapist was very nice and explained everything. 4. The appointments in the hospital were good. I did not need to wait too long in the waiting room. And the doctors were nice. 5. At the end of pregnancy I made an appointment for physiotherapy. I was struggling with my back, hips and pelvic floor. I got my appointment just after the birth of my baby. 6. Just before my baby was born I went to hospital with contractions three times in a week and a half. The third time was the lucky one. First few times I stayed in the hospital for few days. And staff were amazing and treated me very nice. 7. Third time I came in to hospital I was finally getting into labour but very slowly. I was in huge amount of pain. But the doctor gave me gas and kept very rudely saying to me that I should relax. Until she actually understood that I'm in too much pain and I was dilated just two cm. So it was not normal. That's when she started to be nice with me.8. I had an emergency c-section and it was really traumatic. When I woke up everyone was really nice. 9. Second day after c-section one of the midwives started to put my baby into my bed to sleep with me, I did not want that and I was terrified of it, but she kept doing it. I think it's because I kept calling them when I needed to feed my baby. So they would take him out of his bed. ( I could not move much and was in a lot of pain). 10. Same midwife was really pushing me about breastfeeding. I wanted to breastfeed, but already third night my nipples cracked very badly and I was asking maybe someone could show me how to express or help me with my nipples. Thats when she become really rude and kept telling me just feed him and basically stop whining and made me feel just horrible about myself. Other midwifes and nurses were very nice. 11. I was not expecting that food would be that nice. It was actually lovely. 12. There was as well a point when I was bleeding (as you do after birth), and I needed someone to help me, and I kept pressing the bell. It took them an hour to come for me when my sheets were bloody and I was almost crying. They said that the bell had not worked, but it kept happening. 13. And the last when discharging me they never even told me what I need to do with my scar, can I lift anything, do I need to clean it etc...? So there is definitely some good things about this hospital. Antenatal care was really good. But straight away after birth (especially after c-section) when you are asking their help, they just don't want to help you. And so many times I was told I will come help you in 5 mins, and they would not show up for half the night.

I had two miscarriages in 2009 and 2015 at 14 and 10 weeks. First time I was told after a scan that the foetus was dead and an appointment for a D&C was not scheduled until six days later, I had to go home and wait until I passed it the foetus on my bedroom floor, fast forward a few years to my second pregnancy, spontaneously began to bleed at 10.5 weeks and passed a foetus again. Rushed into hospital and a few clots were removed and I was just sent home with a cup of tea. Miscarriage was incomplete and I bled on and off heavily for a month and had to keep going back in until a D&C was done a month later despite me asking earlier for it as I couldn't cope with the bleeding anymore. It was utterly traumatising. I was not offered any testing to see what had gone wrong as unless I had a 3rd miscarriage I didn't 'qualify'. I got pregnant 4 months after the miscarriage again and had intermittent scary episodes of bleeding. Despite being semi private and my history I didn't see a consultant until 17 weeks. I got no extra care. At 24 weeks the bleeding came back and I was discovered to have an open cervix with my water sac bulging. I was going to give birth extremely prematurely. I was thrown into a ward with seven other women, a few who were in labour, it was terrifying. The facilities are horrific. My so called consultant breezed in as if it was all nothing and questioned me on my insurance. After 10 days in a hostel like environment I gave birth 15 weeks early to a baby weighing less than 2 pounds who just about survived. Again no investigation was offered despite 3 pregnancies now having gone wrong and I had to fight to get an MRI. The bill for my insurance provider was over 11 grand for the crappiest facilities imaginable.

Wife booked a consultant for her maternity who left the semi private clinic in week 35 of the pregnancy. Nobody bothered to tell us that he left and still waiting to hear from the hospital. Staff even after 3 weeks still didn't know he had left. No communication still from staff that we have no consultant. 10 days to due date and no idea of who our consultant is. Spending €900 for nothing. Waiting 45 minutes in waiting rooms and nobody knowing if a doctor is coming or not. No communication from staff of what is going on.

My wife had a bleed and pain very early in her pregnancy. We were advised to go to Holles Street straight away by a GP. We are currently here at the moment. Initially the care was good and pretty prompt. Scans were done and second opinions got. However we can not be discharged as we have to wait for a doctor. Approx two hours later there is no doctor and no information. We were told the doctor was In delivery and would be 30 mins. We were left sitting in a freezing room with air con on full blast, no magazines or offer of any food or even a cup of tea. Bare in mind it is nearly 9pm and we have been here since 5pm. My wife is tired, emotional, upset and not one nurse has given an update or checked on us. When we have approached the nurses desk, I was spoken to in a rude and obnoxious way. We are an inconvenience. If this is supposed to be care I'm flabbergasted. In my line of work if I promise an update in 30 mins and have to be prompted two hours later I am in no position to give attitude. Really feel like we are an inconvenience and frightens me that only one senior doctor is available in a hospital of this size.

I had three miscarriages at the hospital and was told to get testing done to see if there was any medical reason behind it. Getting an appointment took a few months. Was told to get tests done. My appointments were cancelled or moved on a few occasions and I was spoken to with contempt by one of the nurses when I told her the reorganised times were not appropriate for me and when I had an appointment to get the results, that was also moved. When I told my doctor I was displeased with the change of dates as this caused me more stress I was told 'I am entitled to take holidays' and they then treated me poorly for the rest of the consultation. I have made a formal complaint but I expect nothing will be done. really hope somebody realises women in my position need more support not contempt.

Awful treatment, an animal would be treated better.

I was scared after reading some of the comments on this site. We had selected NMH, gone to a few appointments - which were fine.....and then I made the mistake of reading this site. I genuinely feel that the only people that come on here are the few that have had bad experiences. I'm sure this does happen on occasion. I can not rate this hospital highly enough. The staff are amazing, so caring and thoughtful throughout the entire pregnancy. I would suggest looking at the number of complaints on this site and compare that to the number of people that go through this hospital on a daily basis. To put it into perspective: the night before my son was born there had been 24 births in a 16 hour period. If this were to happen often you would be looking at hundreds of births per month. If you go back 100 reviews on this site I think you would be reading comments from 2012.......thousands of people have had amazing experiences since that review was written. WELL DONE AND THANK YOU TO ALL THE STAFF IN THE NMH!

Just horrific experience. Belittled and mocked by staff. Threatened and lied to.

Excellent care from start to finish.

Have been to Holles Street on a few occasions due to abnormal smears where I had to have a procedure carried out, and then again in July this year where I gave birth to my little girl. I again visited last week for a smear and each time the level of care from the staff and midwives is outstanding. I am an extremely nervous patient and the staff always maintain my dignity whilst trying to refocus my mind with their sense of humour and caring ways. There are too many to mention but the care from the domino scheme midwives on giving birth was fabulous. Not having any more children but would recommend this hospital to anyone. Thank you :))

My daughter was born in August two months premature due to reduced foetal movements. I just want to say since the minute I walked in the door, the care I received was outstanding. The care my daughter received in the NICU was incredible, they are such amazing people. The doctors and nurses where amazing and I am so grateful for the great care they gave to my daughter on her month stay there. I would like to say that if you were wondering what hospital to go to, to have your baby, there is only one place you should consider and that is Holles Street.

Attended Holles Street for inducement of miscarriage. The care and sensitivity I received from all staff was amazing. I'll never forget the kindness shown to me and my husband

I just had my twins in NMH. The care on both antenatal and post natal were second to none. I had a very traumatic experience on the birth of my first child, in a different hospital, the experience I had this time round completely put me at ease. I also have had experienced the NICU and high dependency unit. Again all staff encountered very professional and caring. The only complaint I have is the food, not very nutritious or palatable!!!

My treatment in this hospital was horrendous. I was sneered at, treated like I was invisible, given out to when in labour, lied to, bullied. Physically me and my baby were fine, but I am still traumatised by the way I was treated. I want to have another baby and I am terrified and no longer trust medical professionals. I cannot even bring myself to make a formal complaint (I will soon) because the thought of engaging with this hospital again sends shivers down my spine. I am going to have to go to counselling in order to deal with this experience. I am disgusted that women are treated like this by the people who are supposed to care for them. Do not have your baby in this hospital.

I had an awful experience with Holles Street. While the midwives are amazing - the consultant left a lot to be desired. This doctor was rude and not ashamed to show how incredibly disinterested they were in seeing me. My appointment with this doctor lasted less than five minutes and they rushed me out the door even when I told them I had questions. I left in tears and advised them I wouldn't be going back. Don't go public here!

I wish to acknowledge my deepest appreciation to the doctors nurses and every member of staff in unit 4 of NMH Holles street for the care and attention I received on my recent stay there. They are all amazing people. Thank you so much.

I had my baby there in July 2012. Semi -private. Generally I had a good experience with the staff and the way I felt looked after. They are slow with the results and I had very low iron levels, felt really bad. They had called me to tell me I should take iron supplements 1.5 month later. When I felt really bad and tired, I couldn't get out of the bed so read a bit on the internet, got the idea it might be the iron and went to my GP before the hospital kindly called me, so got the bloods done at GPs where it was confirmed iron is low. The delivery wasn't really complicated, I got epidural quite quickly. The only thing; the anesthesiologist seemed to be in a rush and did not wait long enough for the injection pre-epidural to start working properly and I had jumped a bit when the epidural was applied as felt stabbing (not painful but still) in my back. After my daughter was born, the care was good except one nurse who seemed not to like her job or some patients. I am not Irish and have noticed she was nice to Irish woman in the room. But with me she had a problem each time that I asked for something. She left me with horrible bruises as she seemed not to see my veins to apply IV. Apart from that I was happy enough with the hospital. Now I am expecting another baby and was wondering if I should go there as the opinions I am reading about Holles St are bad. Especially those most current ones. Maybe we should all specify if we went public, semi private or private as this might help.

I had written birth preferences, which seemed to irritate some staff greatly, and while the first midwife who attended me did seem to be on the same page, the subsequent one made no mention of them, and seemed utterly determined to get me on the Active Management of Labour production line ASAP. This midwife also seemed to lack basic physiology/midwifery knowledge, telling me that there was no advantage to labouring in an upright position, and that lying on my back during the second stage was 'a great position for opening up the pelvis'. This same woman spoke mostly to my back rather than my face, even when telling me things like the trace was non-reassuring. Another midwife on duty was similarly aggressive and dismissive in her attitude to me. I was shouted at, told I had refused tests that I had simply asked for more information on, and despite asking multiple times to be kept informed of what was going on, given very little information. Other staff that came to see me had clearly been briefed that I was 'difficult' and came into my room with all guns blazing, in one case only to find that what I was requesting was what she felt was necessary. No one listened. It was horrific. Despite asking to sign a consent form for the C-section I endured, I was not allowed to do so (and this was not because of clinical urgency, just staff impatience). My privacy and dignity were utterly compromised, and I have been left very traumatised by my experience. While the physical outcome was good, I did not feel at all cared for as a human being. A little kindness would have gone a long way, but instead the hospital adopted a very defensive attitude, and has implied that my expectations were simply too high. If expecting to be treated as an intelligent woman, entitled to bodily integrity and with the capacity to make informed decisions, while maintaining her dignity is too much to ask, then I guess they're right. I have heard many positive stories from NMH, sadly mine was not one of them, and there is no way I would go back.

I found the staff to be under extreme pressure and very stressed right down to the staff handing out the dinners. If you didn't have it finished when they came back to collect the trays, they were rude and agitated. Obviously they need all trays back to go home and became very annoyed if you didn't wolf it down there and then. The nursing staff on the ward didn't care, they just wanted you discharged. It was my first baby and I found the experience of Holles Street very traumatic and distressing. Common courtesy is not something you will experience in Holles Street.

Overall great hospital. It was my first choice from the very start of my pregnancy and am very happy with my choice and will be back again in the future.

Great hospital and majority of doctors and nurses excellent, however bullying of staff needs to be addressed.

Everyone in the hospital was very professional and extremely nice during all my outpatient visits. Especially during my very long and difficult labour we received care and attention from the midwives and the doctors. They treated us with the utmost dignity and respect. I felt safe and well looked after. I couldn't have asked for better care. In the postnatal ward the amazing care continued. Even though the public shared room of six beds was full, the nurses always had time to answer all our questions and help us with breastfeeding and other baby care. I would definitely recommend Holles Street to have your baby!