Disc degeneration is a normal part of the aging process. Just because a radiology report makes reference to "significant" or even "severe" degenerative change in your spine, it is incorrect to assume that you definitely need urgent surgery. Your GP will make referral if he/she feels that you need speciailst review, and I will then explain your treatment options to you, having heard from you what your clinical problems are.
If you haven’t any health insurance cover, then spinal surgery in a private hospital can be expensive. My secretary can call the hospitals and get an all-in price for any procedures that I may recommend.
Whilst spinal surgery is expensive, the cost of not being able to work to full capacity is often more financially debilitating.
Yes. I would be very happy to see you and treat you in the public health system also in Tallaght Hospital. An unfortunate result of decades of inadequate resourcing of both the hospital network in general, and spinal surgery specifically, is an admittedly unacceptable long waiting time both to be seen in the outpatients clinic and to be operated on. All patients are seen and operated on on the basis of clinical need.