Gynaecology
The Rotunda Hospital offers a comprehensive range of services for the investigation and treatment of benign gynaecological conditions. These clinics are led by consultant obstetricians and gynaecologists.
The Rotunda Gynaecology unit was opened in March 2021. This unit caters for patients attending for gynaecology clinic appointments, gynaecology ultrasound, anaesthetic consultations and ambulatory gynaecology procedures.
As you enter the building you will be greeted by our administrative staff in our reception and waiting area. Directly ahead is the ultrasound suite which will offer women access to ultrasound for benign gynaecology and fertility conditions. Beyond the ultrasound suite is our procedure area for hysteroscopy and urogynaecology. A comfortable recovery area is situated opposite these procedure rooms. Also situated downstairs are an andrology room and laboratory, which are part of our expansion in fertility services. Upstairs has nine clinical rooms and a staff base. We also continue to offer telemedicine consultations.
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The Rotunda Gynaecology unit is situated on the Parnell Square East side of the Rotunda campus. It is accessed through the main Hospital entrance, making your way to the left, then exiting the glass doors to the car-park. Keeping right when exiting the doors, and making your way across the car park, following the signs past the garden, and turning left before you reach The Pillar Room.
Gynaecology Clinics
What is Gynaecology?
Gynaecology is the clinical area that focuses on the health of the female reproductive system.
Our team at The Rotunda includes Consultant Obstetricians and Gynaecologists with particular interest in providing care to women with general and specialised gynaecological problems.
They are supported by a team of nurses, midwives and other healthcare professionals. Whether you are an inpatient on our wards, a day patient or an outpatient at one of our clinics you will be cared for by a team of professionals who will ensure you receive the best possible care, support and treatment and follow-up.
The Rotunda Hospital offers a comprehensive range of services for the investigation and treatment of benign gynaecological conditions including:
- Endometriosis
- Menstrual disorders
- Prolapse
- Menopausal symptoms
- and other gynaecological conditions
These clinics are delivered by a multi-disciplinary team. A letter of referral is required from your GP.
Adolescent Gynaecology
This special service is provided for teenage girls (14 – 18 years of age). A consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist runs this clinic with a midwife on a weekly basis. The service provided in the Rotunda allows for the easy transition of care for patients from paediatric to adolescent and adult gynaecology services. Referral to the clinic is by letter from a GP or other referring doctor.
Ambulatory Hysteroscopy Clinic
The Rotunda Hospitals ambulatory hysteroscopy clinic is a state of the art facility that is located on the grounds of the Rotunda Hospital. It is a one stop clinic to investigate and treat women with abnormal uterine bleeding, submucosal fibroids, endometrial polyps and infertility due to a uterine abnormality. The clinic runs 5 days per week, supported by our team of consultants, nurses and care assistants.
There are 10 Consultant led clinics per week supported by specialist nurses who ensure the smooth running and forward development of this service.
The clinic is equipped with an ultrasound scan machine for both abdominal and transvaginal ultrasound. The latest 2mm hysteroscopes allow diagnostic procedures to be performed by a vaginoscopic approach (without use of speculum) and without requirement to dilate the cervix making it more comfortable for the patient. We are also equipped with the Myosure and Truclear devices that allow resection of endometrial polyps and submucosal fibroids safely under local anaesthesia.
Suitable cases for this service are identified from referral letters from GPs and other departments in the hospital. On the day of their appointment, patients have a consultation followed by a diagnostic or operative procedure done on the same day and all within 30-40 minutes. All going well, patients can resume their normal activities after. To identify suitable patients for this service, please use our specific referral form.
Our patient satisfaction survey has shown that the majority of our patients respond favourably in terms of pain scores, tolerability and acceptability of the procedures with most opting for outpatient management instead of General Anaesthesia, if they were to require a similar investigation in the future.
DOVE Clinic
This service looks after the specific needs of pregnant women who have or are at risk of blood and sexually transmitted bacterial/viral infections.
For example you would attend the DOVE clinic if:
- You or your partner are HIV positive
- You or your partner are Hepatitis C positive
- You or your partner are Hepatitis B positive
- You or your partner have a history of drug addiction or drug abuse
- You are on a prescribed methadone programme.
- You are positive for syphilis infection.
- You require management/treatment of vaginal warts, chlamydia, gonorrhoea or herpes.
While attending the DOVE clinic, you will receive care from a multidisciplinary team who will provide individualised care throughout your pregnancy and birth of your baby. At your clinic visits you will meet a consultant obstetrician, the DOVE liaison midwife and/or the addiction liaison midwife as well as the DOVE clinic social worker. You may also be seen by the consultant in infectious diseases. After giving birth, your baby will be reviewed by the paediatrician from the DOVE team.
It is important that you feel comfortable and can discuss issues openly with the team at the clinic and we hope that attending the clinic is a positive experience for you and your baby. You may contact the DOVE liaison midwife directly by phoning 087 – 415 1478 during office hours.
For further information on the DOVE clinic please see the DOVE clinic booklet.
Endocrine Clinic
This service oversees the management of most endocrine conditions during pregnancy and is led by a consultant endocrinologist. However, women with hypothyroidism have their condition managed between their GP and their obstetric team.
Medical hypertension/renal clinic
A specialist medical team led by a consultant provides this service for women with high blood pressure, kidney conditions and urinary tract infections.
Teenage Pregnancy Service
The Teenage Pregnancy Service was established in 2005 and is run by a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, a Clinical Midwife Specialist and a dedicated social worker. The service provides holistic, multi-disciplinary antenatal and postnatal care for those up to the age of 19. We also offer care to some vulnerable young adults over the age of 19 (such as those with additional medical or social needs) who may benefit from the continuity of care of a dedicated obstetrician, midwife, and other supports that are available within our service. In addition to weekly antenatal clinics, we run a monthly postnatal clinic, in which we provide contraceptive advice and long acting reversible contraception, if chosen.
Perineal Clinic
The complicated postnatal care (‘perineal’) clinic provides care to women who have experienced obstetric anal sphincter injury (OASI) during the birth of their baby, both in the immediate postnatal period or when women are pregnant again after a previous injury.
An anal sphincter injury occurs when there is a tear from the vagina into the back passage. A third degree tear is where the ring of muscle around the back passage is damaged during birth. A fourth degree tear is where the tear goes as far as the anal canal (inside the back passage). The clinic works closely with the physiotherapy department.
2 Weeks
Any women with a 3rd or 4th degree tear following birth will have been seen by the physiotherapist around 2 weeks after the birth. Further appointments with the physiotherapist will be arranged as necessary.
6 Weeks
Women with OASI are referred for a special review at this clinic around 6 weeks after birth to ensure that their recovery has been satisfactory. Their labour and the birth of their baby as well as planning care for any future pregnancies and births are discussed. The clinic is run by a consultant obstetrician & gynaecologist in conjunction with a specialist physiotherapist.
Other Complications
This clinic also provides care for women who have other problems after the birth of their baby, for example, perineal pain, dyspareunia (pain on sexual intercourse) or a perineal wound infection. Women are usually referred to this clinic from within the Rotunda, but GP referral for delayed postnatal complications are accepted. The clinic also has links with the department of colorectal surgery in the Mater Hospital and the pain clinic in Beaumont Hospital for any women who require referral. The clinic also provides care for women who have experienced FGM and works in close collaboration with the HSE funded FGM clinic at IFPA .
Female Genital Mutilation / Cutting (FGM/C)
The clinic also provides care for women who have experienced FGM and works in close collaboration with the HSE funded FGM clinic at IFPA.
FGM Information Leaflet
FGM Information Leaflet in English
FGM Information Leaflet in Arabic
FGM Information Leaflet in Somali
Revision Surgery for FGM Information Leaflet
Revision FGM Information Leaflet in English
Revision FGM Information Leaflet in Arabic
Revision FGM Information Leaflet in Somali
Supporting Your Pelvic Health after FGM Information Leaflet
Gynaecology Care Options
Public Care
The Rotunda provides general gynaecology and specialist gynaecology services. Referral to a gynaecology clinic requires a letter from your GP or other referring doctor.
The letter should be sent to:
Gynaecology Appointment Scheduling Dept
The Rotunda Hospital,
Parnell Square,
Dublin 1.
Once a GP referral letter is received, it is reviewed by a senior doctor and the appointment is prioritised according to medical need. We will contact you and your GP to let you know whether your appointment request has been categorised as urgent or routine. If your request is urgent, we will offer you an appointment to be seen within four weeks. If your request is routine, we will let you know the current waiting time for an appointment. We will contact you six weeks before you are due to be seen in the clinic to offer you an appointment for a date and time that suits you.
If you need to change or cancel an appointment, please phone 01–873 0632 as early as possible and we will reschedule your appointment.
There is no fee for attending the public gynaecology clinics. However, if you require admission to hospital, you will be charged the inpatient statutory government levy. See the preparing for hospital admission section for further information.
Private Care
You have the option of attending privately one of our consultant obstetricians and gynaecologists for a gynaecology appointment. The consultants have their outpatient clinics in the Rotunda Private Clinics, which is on the main Rotunda campus.
A letter requesting an appointment should be addressed to the consultant of your choice and sent to:
Rotunda Private Clinics,
The Rotunda Hospital,
Parnell Square,
Dublin 1.
The Rotunda Hospital,
Parnell Square,
Dublin 1.
To find out more about the consultants and care in the Rotunda Private Clinics, please visit their website www.rotundaprivate.ie. If you require admission to hospital, there are private rooms on the gynaecology ward. The Rotunda operates a direct payment scheme with many private health insurance companies. If you have any queries about your private health insurance cover, please contact your company before your admission to hospital.
Preparing for admission
Inpatient
Women admitted to hospital for major surgery should prepare to stay for 2 – 5 days. The length of stay may vary depending on your particular health needs. Pack a small bag and include your toiletries, towels, sanitary wear, night wear, dressing gown, slippers and spare underwear. Remember that if you forget anything, your partner or friend can get it for you at one of the shops nearby. You should leave any jewellery or other valuables at home to keep them safe while you are in hospital.
You will be told in advance what time you should arrive at the hospital. On the day of admission, check in with the staff at the reception desk and they will organise for somebody to meet you, review your contact details and organise your admission to the ward. On the ward you will be seen by the midwife/nurse and the doctor. If you are taking any medication, please bring it with you or else know exactly what you are taking.
On the day of discharge, you should organise for somebody to collect you and take you home. You will be told how long to wait before you should drive a car again. We will organise a follow up appointment for you and give you the details on the day you leave hospital or else we will send it in the post. We will send a letter to your GP informing him about your admission.
If you need a letter for work, don’t forget to ask the doctor for it before you are discharged. If you need a social welfare certificate you can get it from your GP.
If you have been attending one of our gynaecology clinics and you require admission to hospital for surgery or you are admitted as an emergency patient, you are most likely to be in the gynaecology ward on the first floor. There are private ensuite rooms and public wards.
All gynaecology patients admitted to hospital, either as an inpatient or day case are liable for the inpatient statutory government levy, which is currently €80 per day, up to a maximum of 10 days payment in any one year. Medical card holders do not have to pay this fee. For patients with private health insurance, the levy is included in the prices listed below:
- Accommodation in a single room per night is €1,000
- Accommodation in a shared room per night is €813
- Accommodation in a private day ward is €407
All patients – please bring your medical card or your private health insurance details with you when you are admitted to hospital.
Private patients should contact their insurance company before admission if they have any concerns about their level of cover. The Rotunda operates a direct payment scheme with the following companies:
- VHI Healthcare
- Laya Healthcare
- Aviva Health
- GloHealth
- Garda Medical Aid
- ESB Medical Provident Society
- Prison Officers Medical Aid Society
Otherwise, payment of all bills is due in full, on discharge from hospital. If you have any queries, please contact:
Patient Accounts Department by phoning 01–817 1763 or 01-817 1764
Day Case
Women who are coming into hospital for a day case procedure are usually asked to arrive at the hospital for 7.30 am. Check in with the staff at the reception desk and they will organise for somebody to meet you, review your contact details and organise your admission to the ward. On the ward you will be seen by the midwife/nurse and the doctor. If you are taking any medication, please bring it with you or else know exactly what you are taking.
When you are preparing for your admission, please pack a small bag which includes your toiletries, towel, night wear, dressing gown, sanitary wear and slippers. Sometimes, women may be kept in hospital overnight, so organise in advance for somebody to mind your children, if necessary.
You should ask your partner or friend to ring the gynaecology ward at 12 noon to find out what time you will be discharged. You must have somebody to collect you and drive you home from hospital. Usually, you will be discharged from hospital 3-4 hours after having the procedure.
We will give you instructions about any follow up care which may be required. If you need a letter for work, don’t forget to ask the doctor for it before you are discharged. If you need a social welfare certificate you can get it from your GP.