General Chat

I don't think I'd begrudge that either.

Though I would an adult.

Ooooooo nasty pasty aren't I? lol x

So would I, Sue. Well said.

Gwynne

We also have children coming to Australia from developing countries for expert medical assistance - generally brought over by Rotary. Thank goodness we have specialists who are more than happy to work with these children to correct birth defects that would impede their chances of working in their own countries when they are adults. Awhile back we had siamese twins from Pakistan and the country was behind them during the long hours it took to seperate them. I would be hard pushed to find a single person who begrudged the time and resources it took to bring those little girls to the reasonable good health they have now.

If I had a severely disabled child I would travel the world to get help for that child.

I dont think this is about tourists being taken ill while in this country,
this is about people coming into the country with long term serious illnesses which require expensive drugs and long stays in hos,also woman coming to the UK to have their baby"s because of course its free,i for one have nursed several sick babys from the likes of India,portugal,and three from malaysia,
I also know of a porto rican family who came here with a son who had profound learning dis,the father would te,ll everyone who would listen ,that the reason they came here was because their son would get free special education and healthcare. when he came to the school about 8yrs ago,he could not speak english and a translator had to be brought in.
nobody minds helping sick people,but some take the mick. :-)

Thank you Roy.

I rather enjoyed your thread.....with all the contributors !

Well thanks to all who have posted on this thread i have enjoyed reading all the opinions posted and it looks like every one has had their say and would welcome any other opinions

but it is now looking like health care around the world which is also interesting has taken over so feel free to add your views on either subject

Roy

Reciprocal Agreement also apply' s in Australia for UK citizens.

It's basic medical care.... does not include Ambulance or Air Ambulance , but you do have to sign on to their Medicare ( just like our NHS.)

My brother got treated last year for a heart problem & drugs... while holidaying with his daughter in Perth.

Ann - I see you did - however just after you Roy made the point about it was a different number reference in past 5 years.

I am leaving them to it.

By the way, it is a fallacy that most foreigners speak English. They don't. They are better at it than we are at speaking their language but many are unable to speak even basic English.

Chris it was me meantioned E111 which was the forerunner to the present certificate EHIC (European Health Insurance card) and repatriation. Same conditions apply though.

Glad you find it funny Eldrick - OK when asking for a drink - in hospital conditions - different ball game. Friends OH was willing to pay privately for assistance - he could not get help in obtaining this.

However I shall leave it to you gentlemen to battle it out and to ignore, in your wisdom, pertinent questions put forward by other posters.

Any one going to another country has a responsibility to stay safe and plane their travel and stay and anyone who does not think that becoming ill or that they will not ever be involved in a accident is indeed being naive at best,

no one plans being ill or on having an accident not even at home but it happens and should be catered for, thats why travel insurance is their

I don't think Hindsight comes into it just common sense when it comes to health and travel

When we are in their country the fact that they may not speak good English is not the fault or their problem

Roy

Which is why travel insurance gives a lot of peace of mind. Most policies cover the use of an interpreter as well as a helpline number.

Saves the traditional English approach of speaking to pesky foreigners who should be able to speak English - which is to raise the voice and speak slower with exagerated hand signs, like a sign language speaker in slow motion. Hilarious to watch :-)

Roy - when you are ill enough that you require an ambulance the last thing on your mind or that of your friends/relatives is what type of hospital you are going to. Has it not crossed your mind you may not be even conscious or because of level of pain not really coherent??

It is even worse when there is a language barrier - friend's OH was tired trying to contact Consul for services of an interpreter - to no avail. Medical and nursing staff very little english and his spanish did not cover medical terms.

When I mentioned Form E111 I did say it was 7 years ago.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing and I wonder who, if any (apart from perhaps yourself) when booking a holiday in EU for example, would check on status of hospitals in your chosen holiday area.

As to repatriation - my friend did pass away suddenly and I had to handle that from here with the assistance of a funeral director until her OH returned by which time everything was in process.

I did only referr to medical treatment nothing else.

chris of wessex , I think it all depends on the hospital? other eu hospitals are like ours not all state run, and before you agree to treatment you need to establish if the hospital is state run or private, my friend was in Spain last year and involved in a road traffic accident, he was taken by the ambulance to one hospital and his passenger to another the passenger was treated for free but he ended up in a private hospital and had to pay.

You need to question the ambulance crew about where they are taking you to make sure you go to the state hospital,
and best to research these things before you go on holiday because even parts of the same countries can give a different result

Its not called the E111 any more it changed about 5 years ago

and i don't think our NHS covers repatriate a body

Roy

I think the E111 will gain you basic treatment in Europe but will not pay to get you home if you need special treatment en route etc. Nor will it pay to repatriate a body. That is why you also need to take out holiday insurance.

Eldrick - beg to differ - friend was hospitalised nr/in Alicante some 7 yrs ago and in spite of having the E111 form or whatever it was - had to cough up and claim back from insurance. Plus over there in Spain/Majorca I do know that relatives are supposed to stay with patient in hospital and take care of them.

Friend's OH had to sleep in chair for 12 nights.

I have my European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) for when i go abroad but still take out private insurance because i had a heart attack 7 years age so normal travel insurance does not cover every thing and most travel agents will not give cover for my condition

About the EHIC
The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) allows you to get state-provided health care in all European Economic Area (EEA) countries and Switzerland at a reduced cost or sometimes free of charge.

You can apply for the card free of charge on the official EHIC website (www.ehic.org.uk). Other unofficial websites may charge you if you apply through them.

The card is valid for up to five years.

http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcareabroad/EHIC/Pages/Introduction.aspx

Roy

not totally true ref free medical care for non uk residents

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/england/your_family/health_index_ew/nhs_charges_for_people_from_abroad.htm

In the EU it is reciprocal - ie when we go to Benidorm and dive into an empty swimming pool whilst off our faces on drink and smack, they will treat us.

well said. :-D