howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
A year or two back patients in East Kent were offered treatment in French hospitals if they paid the fares there and back, looks like patients around the country are making their own arrangements for care instead being in pain or discomfort waiting for the NHS to treat them.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/10/22/soaring-numbers-flying-abroad-medical-care-nhs-lists-lengthen/Guest 1467- Registered: 30 Jan 2015
- Posts: 149
Interestingly, a work colleague was put into the hospital in Calais back in the summer and when I went to see her, I ended up translating for about six or seven other english patients. Some, but not many of the nurses could speak english. The hospital was nice and modern and like ours, the staff are fantastic. But trust must come into peoples thoughts when someone that is giving you medicine, cannot speak your lingo.....then again, if you have to wait a year or two....
Captain Haddock
- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 8,136
I would always be wary of having an operation in any country where the word for 'testicle' is the same as that for 'an avocado'. Just saying.
"We are living in very strange times, and they are likely to get a lot stranger before we bottom out"
Dr. Hunter S Thompson
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
Lewis Jones wrote:Interestingly, a work colleague was put into the hospital in Calais back in the summer and when I went to see her, I ended up translating for about six or seven other english patients. Some, but not many of the nurses could speak english. The hospital was nice and modern and like ours, the staff are fantastic. But trust must come into peoples thoughts when someone that is giving you medicine, cannot speak your lingo.....then again, if you have to wait a year or two....
When this started the French hospital involved stated that all staff dealing with English patients would be fluent in the language.
Neil Moors- Registered: 3 Feb 2016
- Posts: 1,299
Under the relatively new EU Patient Mobility Directive, citizens from one EU Member State are able to travel to another EU Member State, avail themselves of medical treatment (both state AND private provision) and their home member state must reimburse them - up to the cost of similar treatment in their home state.
So, if you are unhappy with the wait time you are given within the NHS, you are within your rights to travel to France, have the treatment privately, and seek reimbursement from your NHS Commissioner - to the value of the same treatment here.
howard mcsweeney1 likes this
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
Neil Moors wrote:Under the relatively new EU Patient Mobility Directive, citizens from one EU Member State are able to travel to another EU Member State, avail themselves of medical treatment (both state AND private provision) and their home member state must reimburse them - up to the cost of similar treatment in their home state.
So, if you are unhappy with the wait time you are given within the NHS, you are within your rights to travel to France, have the treatment privately, and seek reimbursement from your NHS Commissioner - to the value of the same treatment here.
All been kept rather low key so I cannot believe many people are aware of it. In most treatments there is an initial assessment by a consultant, the procedure itself and then later the aftercare, so it will be at least three lots of return fares. With regard to some private treatments many are cheaper almost everywhere than here, dental implants can cost a fraction of what our Dentists charge.
Neil Moors- Registered: 3 Feb 2016
- Posts: 1,299
You are right, Howard. There is an obligation in the Regulations for Governments to make their citizens aware of their rights - it would be fair to say few Governments embraced that opportunity!
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,885
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
Maybe the not speaking French/English is the barrier
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Guest 1997- Registered: 3 Mar 2017
- Posts: 148
I'd hate to dispel your mirth, Jan, but I really don't think the Captain's assertion has any basis in fact.
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,885
Stuart Honey wrote:I'd hate to dispel your mirth, Jan, but I really don't think the Captain's assertion has any basis in fact.
But the comparison was what was funny for me as I had just eaten an avocado, one of those with a purple wrinkly skin.
Paul Watkins, Paul M and Guest 1997 like this
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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