just been watching this program on TV about what can go wrong with human beings abroad A&E hospitals etc,...
made a massive mistake in my youth and now feel a wee bit nervous just want to know if any peeps have had medical emergencies or treatment abroad ? and any tips to pass on about how to cope if that happened to you ...
Take your NHS card, have all your insurance details, advice tel nos on a card. Have a note on you for any medical staff to contact your Insurance company and get permission before(!) they treat you , in case you are not in a postion to do so.
On my only Himalayan trip I was required to have insurance that allowed the guide to decide if a helicopter evacuation was necessary and not wait for a decision from the insurance company (if they could be contactable).
Get travel insurance...and make sure you know what they require and what assistance they provide.
I have had two incidents - one where we had to come back from France early due to a relative falling ill (all I did was ring the helpline...outlined problem. They rang back in 1/2 hour with suggested travel changes..agreed them over the phone then finished my coffee), other where a daughter had an ear infection resulting (we later found) in a perforated eardrum. Helpline again - which rang back...spoke to a doctor..who arranged a local GP..who prescribed drugs etc etc etc.
Point being, the travel insurance company did all the leg work, took all the costs, claimed all the responsibility.
> Get travel insurance...and make sure you know what they require and what assistance they provide.
I'd approach it the other way around: decide what assistance you might need, and what cover, and then get suitable travel insurance...
I've only had to access travel insurance for skiing (twice). Neither time did I need my details to get recovery or treatment, but provided them afterwards. The insurance company sorted recovery travel, and arranged to reclaim the medical costs under the E111 scheme (1997).
It depends where you're going abroad, of course... First world countries should offer medical cover as good as, or better than the NHS. Third World countries you might want to think about looking into taking essential medical kit (sharps, etc), as their levels of equipment hygiene may not be what you'd hope for; they can't afford disposables in many cases...
Get suitable travel insurance - understand very carefully what the exclusions are (to a large extent what you are covered for doesnt matter...as long as you are happy with what you are not covered for). Also understand very crefully the claims procedures - some require the E111 to be shown to the hospital first, some dont and nearly all have very strict time limits for notification of a claim and sending them reciepts/claim forms etc.
Case in point.
Have just bought insurance for Senior Management, two cubs and me for a trip to the USA.
One of the group has asthma and one has arthritis. Both conditions had to be declared - the asthma isnt a problem, but the arthritis, on the other hand, required an additional medical questionnaire and special permission!y
Now...logic would say that a lung condition is potentially much more serious than a couple of sore toe joints and a dodgy knee but there you go.
I have no experience of third world hospitals but with regard to coping in europe, remember that though many hospitals may be run diffrently to those in the UK the level of care can be equal to or better than what you're used to. So don't worry immediately. Foreign does not immediatey equate with incompetent (I know you didn't say that but it's a general approach humans have ). Many hospitals are underfunded and grubby but the level of competence can be excellent. A doctor with designer stubble is not necessarily a bad doctor. What will create problems is the 'whining foreigner' syndrome. Get advice from other patients and watch what they do. Be flexible. The level of privacy is always different which makes a couple of days waiting for a transfer psychologically difficult. I've always found that smiling helps enromously especially with the nurses. In many countries you will need outside help with providing clothes, pyjamas, drinks, extra food, shaving gear etc. and you should think about this before hand. Rememnber too that the type of pseudo-documentary you watch in the UK about foreign medical emergencies also works the other way round. The brits may think their health service is the best in the world but most of the other states believe theirs is the best. I once saw a documentary here in italy about the bad treatment in the UK. It's just sensationalist journalism at its worst.
To echo what has already been said. Make sure that your insurance covers your intended activity. Make absolutely certain that you have declared any pre-existing conditions, no matter how irrelevant they may seem.
From both personal experience and experience with injured friends the medical services in France are excellent. I haven't been to Nepal for 25 years, but last time I went I wouldn't have wanted to be treated for any sort of serious injury there.
If you have any condition that might affect your treatment, have all the information written down on a bit of paper and laminate it. Then hope that whoever treats you can understand English.
If going to a third world country take your own needles and sterile syringes. Try to avoid anything that requires a blood transfusion;)
I had a broken knee in Austria in 1999 and claimed through our Snowcard insurance. Everything worked like clockwork (including private ambulance to airport and switch to business class flight with seat in front removed to accommodate my full-length pot, and I didn't have to pay anything up front. I just got phone messages through the local travel office in Soll.
Agree with getting the right insurance - not the cheapest one. Some companies will exclude my FMS while others, for the same price, will cover it for nothing as it is chronic and not going to lead to an emergency evac.
Read the small print about activities. Many won't let one dive below 15m, for example, even if the person is an Advanced Diver. Up to 15m is usually training/snorkelling depth.
just want to know if any peeps have had medical emergencies or treatment abroad ? and any tips to pass on about how to cope if that happened to you ...
). Many hospitals are underfunded and grubby but the level of competence can be excellent. A doctor with designer stubble is not necessarily a bad doctor. What will create problems is the 'whining foreigner' syndrome. Get advice from other patients and watch what they do. Be flexible. 
