I come from 15 years nursing in the UK. To be honest, I wouldn't have had treatment in any of the NHS hospitals I encountered, dirty, understaffed and in many cases downright dangerous.
I have had 2 stays in Hamad Hospital, the public hospital and one operation and I cannot say enough positive things about them. The hospital is clean, well equipped and the nurses are not only skilled but still allowed to care in the old fashioned way. I stayed in a 4 bed ward and had a nurse sit by my bed after I came back from theatre, good old fashioned care.
Even if you do go private and use Al Ahli or the others, Hamad is so specialised you will still be referred there for complicated problems.
HMC is ran on the same lines as the NHS but an American model is used for protocol. Doctors are handpicked from around the world.
Anyone free to correct me if this info is out of date, I know they are reorganising.
The Outpatients is another story however, it is a scary experience first time, take someone with you.