Possible Medical evacuation from Thailand to UK

[Commogwinto]

Hi

I have a colleague who MAY need to be medical repatriated to UK. He recently slipped and broke his leg close to the hip. He already has a prosthetic bone insert in his right leg, and now has problem with left. The orthopaedic specialist at Pattaya City Hosp say he needs an operation, so he needs to return to UK. He does not have medical insurance and aged 79. I am trying to find out if there is a UK govt scheme for repatriation on medical grounds, does anybody have any information how I can follow up on this please?

Iain

[samsensam]

not sure the uk government would foot the bill as they'd say he should have purchased travel/health insurance.

the best bet would be to contact his family and friends, i'm sure they'd help him out.

[lopburi3]

Am quite sure he would have to make his own arrangements but for best advise probably need to know if he is and expat or just here on a short visit - is there any chance tickets/credit card might have some emergency medical care?

[Sheryl]

Definitely the UK govt does not pay for this sort of thing.

Good suggestion re checking of ticket or credit card might include any type of travel insurance.

Also from what you describe he would not need a medical escort. Can he sit up? If so then he can just take a regular flight (ask for seat at bulkhead to give room for his leg esp. if currently in a cast or brace. Easy enough to get wheelchair at the airport on both ends.

If he cannot sit up then it is more complex, can still be on a commercial aircraft but would have to buy out a row of seats to accomodate a stretcher.

[gamini]

why dies he not go to a good government hospital here. it won't be very expensive for the operation. I've seen orthopedic specialists in the UK NHS they are not any better than here. But there are very good ones who are non NHS in London, but they charge the earth, I would recommend Siriraj in Bangkok. .

u

[Commogwinto]

Many thanks for the responses, much appreciated. From what I have managed to find out, FCO do not assist any more re payment of repatriation, excepting in dire circumstances.

Am checking with him re cc medical cover. He's waiting until after NYear to see Orthopaedic docs, and on their decision regarding how to proceed from there.

It's a bit difficult at the moment, because need to know more info on extent of damage to femur, when he broke his right leg 4 years ago, he was quoted by Thai hospital (gov't) at 1m+, so

not really cheap. Finally of course, it is his decision what to do, all I can do is try and find out any information that may be of assistance.

Thanks again for your input it is really appreciated.

Iain

[steve187]

if he has been in Thailand a long time then the NHS may not treat him for free'

[lopburi3]

if he has been in Thailand a long time then the NHS may not treat him for free'

It is tabloid news but as long as he declares himself as returned to live in UK he will be treated under NHS - just not saying returning just for free treatment if an expat. See below thread.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/879662-uk-residents-in-thailand-the-harsh-truth-about-the-nhs-service/?p=10205805#entry10205805

[Sheryl]

Many thanks for the responses, much appreciated. From what I have managed to find out, FCO do not assist any more re payment of repatriation, excepting in dire circumstances.

Am checking with him re cc medical cover. He's waiting until after NYear to see Orthopaedic docs, and on their decision regarding how to proceed from there.

It's a bit difficult at the moment, because need to know more info on extent of damage to femur, when he broke his right leg 4 years ago, he was quoted by Thai hospital (gov't) at 1m+, so

not really cheap. Finally of course, it is his decision what to do, all I can do is try and find out any information that may be of assistance.

Thanks again for your input it is really appreciated.

Iain

That price must have included the prosthetic bone. For usual treatment of a fracture would be nothing remotely like that.

[lopburi3]

Actually wonder if there might have been a misplaced decimal point - Thai often get 10k, 100k and 1 million confused.

[Sheryl]

With ortho surgery at govt hospitals the cost of the surgery and hospital stay is quite modest, often even under 10k. What can push up the costs significantly is if they have to put in plates, screws etc -- these are imported and very costly. Ditto any type of implanted prostheses.

[3NUMBAS]

you cant just rock up to Aand E and get treatment as first you will need to supply a resident address and a GP you are registered with ,and to get on a GPs surgery list you have to supply proof of address and that you reside in the UK . its all linked on a super computer system at the hospitals and GPs with records of previous medical history in the UK.

they have tightend up as women have been flying in from africa to have triplets and zooming out again without paying the bill and other very expensive treatment. plus A and Es are full of aslum seekers from all over the world nowadays ,so security has been tightend up .

[NancyL]

What's his visa situation? I'm being serious. If he's on overstay, or close to being on overstay, then maybe something can be "orchestrated" with the local Immigration office to have him deported if he never has plans to return to Thailand . Then the U.K. social welfare agencies will fall over over themselves to help him.

I hate to sound so cynical, but that's what we've found here in Chiang Mai. When elderly U.K. expats with health problems decide to voluntarily repatriate, they go thru all sorts of grief to get back into their system. But those who are have a little brush with the law and are deported are treated like royalty once they arrive at Heathrow. The Thai authorities don't want to lock up elderly men with health problems and will do everything they can to ease them out of the country.

Of course, this is a one-way game. There's no coming back to Thailand once someone does this. But the stories we've heard of how someone is living once they get back to the U.K are magical.