Government hospitals provide a range of services such as accident and emergency (A&E), consultancy services and inpatient and outpatient care. In most cases, patients are referred by their GP to hospitals for more specialist care. The exception is in the case of an emergency, when a patient goes directly to A&E. If you don’t have a medical card and have not been referred by your GP, a trip to A&E will cost you €60. In cases of hardship, this fee may be waived.

It is also notable that most hospitals in Dublin are not known by their official name, but by their location, which can be confusing – Our Lady’s is referred to as Crumlin Hospital, St Colmcille’s as Loughlinstown Hospital and The James Connolly Memorial as Blanchardstown Hospital.