British woman in Phuket hospital after bike crash

[Lite Beer]

British woman in Phuket hospital after bike crash
Claire Connell

PHUKET: Family and friends of British expat Andrea Woodmansey are rallying to raise funds for her medical care after she was left seriously injured in a motorbike crash.

Miss Woodmansey, who has lived on and off in Phuket for the last four years after moving from England, is currently in Vachira Hospital after a motorbike crash near Chalong Circle on July 6.

Details of the crash are sketchy as Miss Woodmansey cannot remember anything before or after the crash, but it is understood she lost control of her bike on a wet road on her way home to Chalong, and may have crashed into a vehicle. She was wearing a helmet at the time.

Friends drove past and stopped, without realising it was Miss Woodmansey, and did CPR and got her to hospital.

Miss Woodmansey was left with a dislocated hip (her leg is currently in traction to help with the healing), a broken left femur, a fractured left kneecap, a fractured right arm, a torn liver, a skull fracture, a collapsed lung, as well as her right knee tearing open.

But the most concerning injury is there is no feeling in Miss Woodmansey’s right arm due to nerve damage.

Miss Woodmansey doesn’t have health insurance in Phuket and with increasing medical costs, family and friends are trying to raise the estimated B1 million required to get her back to the UK to seek specialist treatment for her arm.

“I’ve got family there and it’s free, at home we have NHS (the National Health Service),” Miss Woodmansey explains.

“I’ve got no feeling in my arm and I could lose it. Once I’m rehabilitated I want to come back, this is my life here – it’s my home and where I live.”

What is also crushing for Miss Woodmansey is that her plans to establish a superfood health business with a charitable arm on the island are now on hold until her health improves.

“But I’ve been overwhelmed by the support and love from everyone, it’s been amazing,” she said.

Miss Woodmansey’s mother Rachel Sharp flew over from the UK straight away when she heard the news.

Friends and family have raised nearly 10,000 pounds (B470,000), which will cover her stay at Vachira Hospital so far. But without medical insurance, Mrs Sharp wants her daughter to go back to the UK where she can get free specialised care which will hopefully be able to save the nerve in her arm.

Transporting Miss Woodmansey back in her current state will cost around 31,500 pounds (roughly B1.4 million), which they have to pay upfront.

“Our aim is to get her home on Friday and get her arm sorted,” Mrs Sharp said.

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/british-woman-in-phuket-hospital-after-bike-crash-40838.php

-- Phuket News 2013-07-14

[FritsSikkink]

Sad but here is another story about someone who thought medical insurance is a waste of money.

Hope a couple of not insured people will get some sense.

[NamKangMan]

I wish Miss Woodmansey a speedy recovery.

However, the article does state she has funding to start a business, but no funding for medical insurance.

I would have thought insurance to be a priority, possibly even budgeted for in the business plan.

[DefaultName]

She has a shock coming. If she has moved out of the UK and can't prove residency, the NHS is not free. She could even still be paying tax in the UK and not have any right to free treatment.

As a wannabe expat, I've looked into this.

[NamKangMan]

She has a shock coming. If she has moved out of the UK and can't prove residency, the NHS is not free. She could even still be paying tax in the UK and not have any right to free treatment.

As a wannabe expat, I've looked into this.

Maybe she's on benefits. If so, EVERYTHING is for free.

Edited July 14, 2013 by NamKangMan

[hanno]

I feel sorry for her but it just amazes me that people save money on insurance. And she must have been going at ba good click to do all that damage.......

[madmitch]

The tourist scheme may or may not get off the ground but I believe medical insurance up to a certain limit (maybe 1m baht) should be compulsory for anyone obtaining a non-imm visa that does not qualify for the Government scheme, i.e. without WP.

Yes, I know it's expensive and may be impossible for older people but that's just tough. Sorry old people (and I'm getting there myself).

Only my opinion but there have been a few cases like the one in the OP involving expats. And it's common sense!

Edited July 15, 2013 by madmitch

[lovetotravel]

I'd hate to think about how many of my friends have been in scooter accidents, several are no long with us. They are driven to save money, and some time in traffic. But in the end, actually cost more. I'll stick with my car. Just too dangerous here.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

[Cuban]

No insurance?

Might we guess no suitable biking clothes?

Does she have the business sense to "establish a superfood health business with a charitable arm"?

Does not sound like it.

But does seem to have plenty of people that are willing to promote the cause via social media where reading between the lines there is more to this story to be uncovered. The phrase "new age dreamers seeking to live off of Facebook charity" was quite a pointed comment I read as were suggestions about a family split.

Not having medical insurance cover is just daft, mistakes are paid for one way or another. I feel there is a savage irony that this person seeks over a million Baht in donations to provide an air-ambulance back to the UK where she expects "free" medical treatment where technically she is probably not entitled due to lapsed residency and local payments made via salary taxes (nothing is free) yet expected to be a charity provider in Phuket.

New age dreamers indeed!

[Maipenrai007]

"establish a superfood health business with a charitable arm"? and she may "Lose her arm"??

Insurance is a must, if you don't have it you should at least have the money to pay for your treatment.

[swerving]

She has a shock coming. If she has moved out of the UK and can't prove residency, the NHS is not free. She could even still be paying tax in the UK and not have any right to free treatment.

As a wannabe expat, I've looked into this.

Not quite correct as she has been back and to to the UK, only if you are out of the UK for 3 years, you CAN lose your right to NHS. However, all she has to do, if not already, is register at her mothers house. A couple of friends did this for cancer treatment, registering at a relatives house, received treatment no problem.

[stevenl]

She has a shock coming. If she has moved out of the UK and can't prove residency, the NHS is not free. She could even still be paying tax in the UK and not have any right to free treatment.

As a wannabe expat, I've looked into this.

Not quite correct as she has been back and to to the UK, only if you are out of the UK for 3 years, you CAN lose your right to NHS. However, all she has to do, if not already, is register at her mothers house. A couple of friends did this for cancer treatment, registering at a relatives house, received treatment no problem.

And people are wondering why the socalled free healthcare is taking up more and more of the tax money.

[bkk_mike]

Re: NHS.

I did all the "right" things when we came to Thailand 12 years ago. - Sent back the medical cards, etc. and informed them we were leaving the country.

But when my daughter moved back last year - she found she was STILL registered with the same GP.

Don't get me wrong, the simple fact that something serious doesn't bankrupt you, or result in you getting unaffordable insurance premiums means the NHS is still a great system. But it could be better run...

Edited July 15, 2013 by bkk_mike

[AnotherOneAmerican]

Not quite correct as she has been back and to to the UK, only if you are out of the UK for 3 years, you CAN lose your right to NHS. However, all she has to do, if not already, is register at her mothers house. A couple of friends did this for cancer treatment, registering at a relatives house, received treatment no problem.

I think you mean 3 months, then you lose NHS entitlement unless over 65.

[attento]

While not denying this person any of our best wishes for her speedy recovery, the words Superfood, Health foods, Business and Charity mentioned together with the fact of no health insurance, are indicators of this person's state of mind.

[Morakot]

She has a shock coming. If she has moved out of the UK and can't prove residency, the NHS is not free. She could even still be paying tax in the UK and not have any right to free treatment.

That's not what the current policy is (16/04/2013). She will be entitled for "free" treatment as long as she can prove that she has moved over to England permanently, when she gets off the plane.

http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/1087.aspx?CategoryID=68&SubCategoryID=162

If you move to England permanently, or return to live in England permanently, you’re entitled to free NHS hospital treatment.

If you move to the UK, you will not be charged for NHS hospital treatment from the date that you arrive, as long as:

• you intend to live permanently in the UK, and
• you have the right to live permanently in the UK or have a ‘route to settlement’ that will allow permanent residence in due course

You’ll be expected to prove that you meet these requirements.

Edited July 15, 2013 by Morakot

[swerving]

She has a shock coming. If she has moved out of the UK and can't prove residency, the NHS is not free. She could even still be paying tax in the UK and not have any right to free treatment.

That's not what the current policy is (16/04/2013). She will be entitled for "free" treatment as long as she can prove that she has moved over to England permanently, when she gets off the plane.

http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/1087.aspx?CategoryID=68&SubCategoryID=162

If you move to England permanently, or return to live in England permanently, you’re entitled to free NHS hospital treatment.

If you move to the UK, you will not be charged for NHS hospital treatment from the date that you arrive, as long as:

• you intend to live permanently in the UK, and
• you have the right to live permanently in the UK or have a ‘route to settlement’ that will allow permanent residence in due course

You’ll be expected to prove that you meet these requirements.

For both of my friends a one way plane ticket sufficed as proof of moving back to the UK.

[phuket laddie]

She has a shock coming. If she has moved out of the UK and can't prove residency, the NHS is not free. She could even still be paying tax in the UK and not have any right to free treatment.

As a wannabe expat, I've looked into this.

Maybe she's on benefits. If so, EVERYTHING is for free.

Your right. Just ask any asylum seeker. Like the ones who had a plane diverted to UK recently then asked for and were given asylum.

[MaxYakov]

Read and heed, you motorbikers: E_kinetic = MV² (yep, that's a square function of velocity)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinetic_energy

If people insist on riding motorbikes instead of walking or riding a bicycle or finding a safer alternative, then perhaps a review of basic physics is due on a daily basis until it becomes apparent. One does not have to jump off a cliff to experience the results of it.

An aside:

It didn't help the Asiana Airlines pilots the other day that their aircraft's speed was low - they had a lot of mass.

Anyway, rant complete. Wish her a complete recovery ... as I shake my head and think ... there, but for the grace of God, go I (except I almost refuse to go anywhere near a motorbike - it is for people without alternatives, like poor Thai folks). Rant really complete now, except for one thing: Is it just me or do I see a lot of obese people on motorbikes?

Edited July 15, 2013 by MaxYakov

[jpduggan]

I detest people like this.They come here and have no insurance for this type of eventuality and when it does happen they expect handouts from others to get them back to their free healthcare at home. I would wager that her mum also got out here on freebies. It's as a result of this type of thing that the Thai government are going to force insurance down our throats when we enter Thailand. For once I can see a method to the Thai madness.

[Dap]

I feel sorry for her but it just amazes me that people save money on insurance. And she must have been going at ba good click to do all that damage.......

Your assumption is just that, an assumption with no factual backing. Anything could have happenened and you weren't there to see any of it. So Sherlock, back off, as it may not have been her fault at all.

Edited July 15, 2013 by Dap

[transam]

Good luck miss.

[Dap]

I detest people like this.They come here and have no insurance for this type of eventuality and when it does happen they expect handouts from others to get them back to their free healthcare at home. I would wager that her mum also got out here on freebies. It's as a result of this type of thing that the Thai government are going to force insurance down our throats when we enter Thailand. For once I can see a method to the Thai madness.

Well, I guess it shouldn't bother you much what the Thai government does seeing as how a person such as yourself

("I detest people like this.") will be more than adequately insured with no need to be concerned about being forced to buy insurance in Thailand. Happy travels mate.

[NamKangMan]

Read and heed, you motorbikers: E_kinetic = MV² (yep, that's a square function of velocity)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinetic_energy

If people insist on riding motorbikes instead of walking or riding a bicycle or finding a safer alternative, then perhaps a review of basic physics is due on a daily basis until it becomes apparent. One does not have to jump off a cliff to experience the results of it.

An aside:

It didn't help the Asiana Airlines pilots the other day that their aircraft's speed was low - they had a lot of mass.

Anyway, rant complete. Wish her a complete recovery ... as I shake my head and think ... there, but for the grace of God, go I (except I almost refuse to go anywhere near a motorbike - it is for people without alternatives, like poor Thai folks). Rant really complete now, except for one thing: Is it just me or do I see a lot of obese people on motorbikes?

It amazes me that you think you are so safe in a car here, Max.

Let me know how you get on with E=MV after an out of control bus, or truck, or a drunk tourist in a hire car, crashes into.

[NamKangMan]

I feel sorry for her but it just amazes me that people save money on insurance. And she must have been going at ba good click to do all that damage.......

Your assumption is just that, an assumption with no factual backing. Anything could have happenened and you weren't there to see any of it. So Sherlock, back off, as it may not have been her fault at all.

Does it matter if it was her fault, or not, or if she was speeding, or not? She was uninsured.

She could have been completely legal on the motorbike, and a drunk Thai without two baht to his name crashed into her. She was uninsured.

Even "Sherlock" would have insurance for such things.

[tolsti]

So who is going to pay for the car she crashed into?

[akc1956]

I feel sorry for her but it just amazes me that people save money on insurance. And she must have been going at ba good click to do all that damage.......

Your assumption is just that, an assumption with no factual backing. Anything could have happenened and you weren't there to see any of it. So Sherlock, back off, as it may not have been her fault at all.

Maybe not her fault she had an accident but her fault she has no insurance.

[cobra1]

(1) 1st class motor bike insurance not just tax bike insurance 350 baht one.

1000 baht yr covers medical bills up 2 200,000 baht

(2) if you have opened a thai bank account you all pay varies 500b-700b ,which includes insurance depending on bank mine scb cost 700b yr covers medical bills up 2 150.000.ok its not the full cost of her

bad injuries but it does help .

[NamKangMan]

There's a website now.

http://www.helpsaveandrea.com/

[NamKangMan]

(1) 1st class motor bike insurance not just tax bike insurance 350 baht one.

1000 baht yr covers medical bills up 2 200,000 baht

(2) if you have opened a thai bank account you all pay varies 500b-700b ,which includes insurance depending on bank mine scb cost 700b yr covers medical bills up 2 150.000.ok its not the full cost of her

bad injuries but it does help .

Better than nothing, but still a bit short if you have a serious inury or illness.

If you can't afford insurance, you can't afford to live in Thailand.