I have to say, I´m rather shocked by your response. I would have thought you could have left your politics at the door and offered some useful advice to people who are obviously in need of it.

Given that you had to bring politics into this, I would ask you to provide some actual facts and statistics on this so called ´health tourism´because I am unable to find any. I am interested to know if this an actual problem or is nothing more than part of the recent onslaught from the right-wing gutter press to deflect blame away from the banking crisis and mismanagment of the economy, onto the usual scapegoat - immigrants.

I did a bit of googling, but only came up with reports that no one actual knows how much so called "health tourism" costs the NHS per year. As far as I was concerned, anyone from an EU or commonweath countries with healthcare agreements, the NHS bills the government of the patient, and so costs are covered in this respect. As a sidenote, the government did claim the figure of 11m GBP as the lowest estimate (i.e. made up) cost of health tourism to the UK taxpayer, later they gave a rather vauge figure of £70m and £300m, any of those figuers set against 'efficiency savings´(i.e. cuts), of 20 billion GBP, perhaps you are barking up the wrong tree mate.

Interestingly, in study here, it states that, in actual fact, so called ´health tourism´actually benefits the NHS in terms of profit, it´s a long read, but worth it perhaps if you feel so strongly as to turn up here and start bringing tabloid politics into a thread that is quite clearly a call for help from people who do not have so many options left. For me, that is very "unBritish", but then maybe my values of Britishness are somewhat dated.

Best regards,
rtw

If you read my previous posts properly you will see that my view is based on my own experience of working in the NHS, not that of the papers, which I don't actually read anyway for the very reasons you suggest.

As also stated, my wife is from overseas, eastern europe in fact, as are many of my friends and acquaintances. One of my best friends from my university days is muslim, as are many more of my friends and acquaintances, so I am actually quite sensitive to the gutter press' ill thought out, ill judged and frequently inaccurate reporting on immigration and the current hysteria over muslims and eastern europeans, none of which is relevant to this subject anyway.

Your post is irrelevant to the discussion as my post was not based on any particular view I may or may not have on immigration. Neither was it suggesting any value on the cost to the NHS. It was a statement of fact that someone who is not entitled to NHS care should not expect it and that the treatment of people who are not entitled has a cost (of, shall we agree, an unknown amount) which has to be found from an already overstretched service.

I would have thought it was useful advice to know that, after the difficulty and expense of getting to the UK, he may find he was told he is not eligible for treatment (as stated in the post of mine you have quoted). I would quite like to know that was a possibility before I set off. The NHS is tightening up on these things so you cannot assume treatment will be given.

Am I unbritish, well, I guess that depends on how you view over 20 years of service in her Majesty's Armed Forces!

I didn't realise that Croatia was part of the UK.

Wishing the injured rider a speedy recovery all the same.

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Paul "Every county of England, every country of Europe and every (part of every inhabited) continent of the Earth" 94% done! What's left? Central America, East, Central and West Africa, Australia & New Zealand

There are some Croatian guys over on ADVRider. Let me know if I can connect you with them if local help is still required.

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Paul "Every county of England, every country of Europe and every (part of every inhabited) continent of the Earth" 94% done! What's left? Central America, East, Central and West Africa, Australia & New Zealand

Fair points.

It's been 5 days since this post was made. What is the state of play with regard to Deane's treatment?

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TBS.com

That was my thought process also, except for the bit about Germany - why Germany in particular (although the Croats have had a close relationship with that country, in the past)?


If it was me, I wouldn't answer that until the dust has settled and there is an "end-state".

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Dave

Its an interesting aspect of this discussion to look (where possible) at the originating locations of those leaving comments or likes and how those are reflected in the nature of the posts.

I second Chris's request for an update on Deane's treatment and condition.

thanks xfiltrate

Hi All

Well the update is here and sorry for the delay, as just arrived in Rome for a few days.

Thank you to everyone who offered advice and help, but the final outcome was one that no one saw coming, The NZ insurance company insisted on flying Heidi and Deane back to NZ, as Moggy, you were right, as the accident happened in Croatia, Deane wasn't covered in the UK and they were only expecting NHS treatment if offered, as their cover would have seen them treated privately.

Anyhow, they flew back Business Class via Zurich and I will post any further updates from the couple when they settle in.

They also send their warm thanks and appreciation and were in awe of HU and all great people who are linked to it.

Chris

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[/SIZE] "Live dangerously for as long as you can!"