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View Full Version : My Tenerife hospital experience on breaking my leg!



Tom & Sharon
01-02-2012, 13:37
Because as you all know, as Tom keeps telling you, I am extremely clumsy and accident prone, last Saturday night I fell and broke my leg. I was taking a short cut across the golf course in the dark, and stepped in a hole I couldn't see and snapped my leg! Extremely handy as Tom had gone back to the UK to work that morning. My parents are here on holiday, so I hadn't gone with him.

I knew immediately that I had broken it. There is no pain like broken bone pain. Our night watchman and my dad carried me to the side of the road, and called an ambulance. The ambulance took me to Hospiten Sur (The Green Clinic). We have no private health insurance here, and as neither of us ever spends more than 3 months at a time outside the UK, we have EH1C cards which entitle us to emergency care. This was accepted without question by the hospital. The care was no quicker (if not slower) than if I had been in England and admitted to A&E. I was admitted at 11pm, and was seen, x-rayed and admitted to a room at 6am. The following day was Sunday. The doctors came round in the morning, and told me it would need operating on and pinning, and that they would do it the next day. They told me it was an unstable fracture, and that the bones were out of line. They didn't show me the x-ray, but drew me a picture ??? I was extremely unhappy about letting them operate, as it had happened to me several years earlier in the UK when I broke my arm, and I had refused the surgery. My arm was simply manipulated back into place after I refused, and went on to heal perfectly. However, a leg is a different thing entirely.

The following day, I was on "nil by mouth" from midnight, and was prepared for surgery in the morning. Mid morning I was told it would be afternoon, as the theatres were full. At 2pm, I received a phone call from the doctor to tell me that the Social Security wanted me moving to Candelaria. An ambulance came to collect me from Candelaria at around 6pm.

When I reached Candelaria, it was extremely busy in Emergencias, just as it had been in Hospiten Sur. I was however seen almost immediately by the orthopaedic doctors. They looked at my x-rays from Hospiten (and showed them to me for the first time) and said the bones were not out of line, that it wasn't a displaced fracture, and it simply needed plastering. They gave me a morphine drip, and plastered it from toe to thigh. They told me to see a doctor in 10 days, to have it re x-rayed, and that I would need a new plaster at some stage and need to be in plaster for 6 weeks. They then took me straight back home in another ambulance.

I was extremely relieved to not have had surgery, but also very confused by the differing opinions. My friend here is a retired A&E sister from England, and came round the following day to look at the x-rays. She confirmed to me what Candelaria had said. That it wasn't a displaced fracture, and that in England it would not have been operated on.

This has left me feeling very suspicious of the private emergency care here. The doctor in Hospiten never showed me the x-ray, simply drew me a picture. Were they putting me through an unnecessary emergency procedure simply so that they could charge the Social Security for it? Do Social Security know that they sometimes do this, and insisted on me being transferred to Candelaria for a second opinion? I don't know what to think.

For my follow up treatment, I am going to Excellent Medical on Golf Del Sur (also private) I am having an x-ray on Friday and seeing the traumatologist to check that it is healing. I am very wary of them not telling me the truth in order to make money now. My scepticism may be unfounded though, and I will let you know on Friday what happens........................

bonitatime
01-02-2012, 15:01
Candelaria is a great hospital and I have only had good experiences there.
Hospiten is a private clinic.......
Glad you are ok and didn't need an operation

Su1
01-02-2012, 16:49
Poor you, hope you continue to mend well!

casabonny
01-02-2012, 17:22
Hospiten have and are going downhill very rapidly.My experience there as an in patient was horrific and I discharged myself .They have recently " treated" but really thats not a word i should really use to describe what they did a very good freind of ours who sadly died due to thier bad treatment/negligence.
Years ago it was Costa Adeje that had the bad reputation but Hospiten have now taken that role over and I would not wish to send my worse enemy there anymore.A place to be avoided like the plague.
Canderlaria is overworked and understaffed as most public hospitals around the world are BUT they will noot suuggest nor carry out any treatment that is not necessary.
I would say you had a lucky escape.

cainaries
01-02-2012, 21:11
Poor you - what a horrible thing to happen. Take care of yourself.

samnickgodber
01-02-2012, 21:30
Oh you poor thing,,,, i hope you are on strong enough painkillers, i would highly recommend Costa Adeje i had my wrist operated on and cast after i has a serious brake 2 yrs ago,,, ps hope you feel better soon xx

dotty1
01-02-2012, 21:43
So sorry to hear of your experience sharon, same thing happened to me , fortunately I did have insurance was treated at the Green clinic had to wait for my leg to be put in plaster for a few hours. Had an operation to pin my ankle
the next day, they did want me to stay but I came our after 2 days, like you say they want to make money. No complaints about the treatment, stayed here for a few more months, although the Insurance wanted me to go home, I did refuse and they said they would!nt pay for any more treatment, I stayed and they paid so in all a good experience. Hope you soon recover.

timmylish
01-02-2012, 23:20
Although I obviously concur in others messages of sympathy I am glad to hear of your views of Candelaria. I have under care there for 5 or 6 years and other than obvious things like you have said yourself I am of the opinion that the care is the best available, in this part of the world. Take care and speedy recovery.

Tom & Sharon
03-02-2012, 18:41
I went this morning to Excellent Medical to see the traumatologist.

When I first went in to see him, I didn't like him. He didn't ask anything about my leg, or look at my notes or x-rays. The first and only thing he did was ask if I had insurance. When I said no, he spent 10 mins talking to his colleagues, made a phone call, and asked to see my EH1C. This left me very confused as I knew that I would have to pay anyway, and was perturbed by his focus on the financial side, and not my leg.

They then sent me back out while they waited for a translator. When I went back in I then got yet another opinion. He said it needed pinning or plating, or that I could just have it re-plastered and it would heal, but would take 2-3 months. If I had the surgery, it would take 1 month less in plaster. When I pointed out that the orthopaedic doctor at Candelaria said it did not need surgery, and that it would only take 4-6 weeks in plaster, his reply was that he is a professional and that that was his professional opinion. But the doctor at Candelaria is also a professional, and that was his professional opinion. How are you supposed to know who is speaking the truth?

I told them there was no chance of me letting them operate. Would they put me through an unnecessary procedure to raise money? Would Candelaria not give me the necessary treatment to save money? Which doctor is the most highly qualified? How are you to know?

He then re-plastered me from toe to thigh, and re x-rayed me. He was actually very gentle when he did this, and didn't hurt me at all for which I was very grateful. He said that I have to see him again in 15 days, and that if I want to go back to England he will split the plaster for me, and give me a certificate to fly. I think this is what I will do, and finish my treatment there.

The bill to see the consultant, re-plaster and re x-ray, plus anti-coagulents for 30 days was 500€.

My leg is comfortable, and I am pain free, so for that I am grateful.

I am still however, very confused.

cainaries
03-02-2012, 21:33
I'd be confused, too, Sharon. At least you're not in any pain. After several bad experiences here in La Palma with both Spanish and German dentists, I have found it cheaper and far far better to go back to the UK to see the dentist I used to go to when we still lived there. I had work done here costing over 1K euros which isn't even good. In fact the guy in the UK looked at it and x-rayed it and said he had no idea how to put it right short of taking out all of the teeth in my bottom right jaw. There seems to be a fashion here to take out people's teeth even when there isn't much the matter with them - money money money.

Hope you'll be dancing around again soon.

Goforgold
03-02-2012, 23:41
Very sorry to hear what's happened to you Sharon, I can imagine the pain you were in - I still remember from when I broke my arm and I was 5 at the time!! xx

marbro8
03-02-2012, 23:54
wtf? have we all lost our ability to care for ourselves as human beings:(,where is the compation and care? we all have to make a living but here in the uk you would never have to question that morale, and you know that whatever hospital you entered your care and welfair would be the only thing on their minds:confused:

dede
04-02-2012, 00:02
Sorry that you have hurt yourself and are having so much conflict over the best treatment, but why have you not gone to majon if you are being seen to by the social? i think you should go to the A&E there to see whats going on, it is unfortunate that money seems to be the key point to the best treatment for you and it would put you off, I find the excellent medical centre always try to put add ons to bring the costs up, im afraid that their as bad as the green clinic for this. hope you get things sorted quickly.

AJP
04-02-2012, 01:02
Sharon,Would you be better wating a few weeks and trying to get a flight back home,a quick trip to Warrington general, might ease your fears.This is not degrading the care you are getting in Tenerife,but at least with the good old NHS you know that payment isn,t the main priority here

samnickgodber
04-02-2012, 08:01
From personal experience i don΄nt like the Green Clinic or Excellent medical i find both are money money money,,,, try the Costa Adeje hospital they are good,

Hope your feeling better x

Goforgold
04-02-2012, 09:37
wtf? have we all lost our ability to care for ourselves as human beings:(,where is the compation and care? we all have to make a living but here in the uk you would never have to question that morale, and you know that whatever hospital you entered your care and welfair would be the only thing on their minds:confused:

Have to disagree with you there Marbro8 - money may not come into it, but certainly care and welfare being the only thing on their minds is not always the case here. :(

dotty1
04-02-2012, 10:12
No wonder you are confused Sharon, I did tell you about my experience here, I did have leg plated the very next day after my leg was broken, When I did go home to the UK I just had physio. I do after say doctors in the UK are not very keen on taking on work when you have had it done by another doctor, in the UK or here. They discharged me and sent me to physio, Its 2 years later and I am just getting back to normal. Its for you to decide what to do and I do hope you soon recover, just do the best for you.

Skeggy
04-02-2012, 10:46
I broke my shoulder in a fall whilst on Tenerife and visited the Green Hospital thinking that they would perhaps just manipulate the shoulder back into position, but on examination and Ex-ray it was decided an operation was neccessary, the operation was carried out the next day after the operation I could not move my fingers, so they took me down again and inserted a rod in my arm, I never doubted that they were professional and were acting with the best intentions, as a lay man I think that you have to be very brave or knowledgeable to tell them what you require. On return to the Uk I was referred to the fracture clinic of our local hospital and an Orthopedic surgeon told me that they had made a right mess of the procedure at the Green and that he would operate to but things right, he then decided that he would refer me to his colleague a shoulder specialist, when I saw him he said that although the operation had not been carried out as he would have performed it, for fear of getting an infection he would leave it and remove the rod at a later date, I attended his clinic and physio for over a year and in the end he decided not to remove the rod as bone had grown over it. My treatment was carried out privately at the Green paid for by insurance. For medical issues on Tenerife it is in my opinion vital to be able to speak and understand Spanish or have a friend to translate for you, as the translators employed my the hospital act for them and perhaps do not ask the questions on your behalf.

Tom & Sharon
04-02-2012, 10:47
Tom has been in the UK since the morning of the day I did it, working. My mum is here with me looking after me, and Tom comes back next Sunday for 2 weeks.

I have decided that I am going to go back to the UK with Tom, and go to Warrington General. It will be 5 weeks by then since I broke it, and if the doctor in Candelaria was right with his 4-6 week theory, then the plaster will be ready for coming off anyway.

I will of course though, then have a 4th opinion! ???

Added after 11 minutes:


I broke my shoulder in a fall whilst on Tenerife and visited the Green Hospital thinking that they would perhaps just manipulate the shoulder back into position, but on examination and Ex-ray it was decided an operation was neccessary, the operation was carried out the next day after the operation I could not move my fingers, so they took me down again and inserted a rod in my arm, I never doubted that they were professional and were acting with the best intentions, as a lay man I think that you have to be very brave or knowledgeable to tell them what you require. On return to the Uk I was referred to the fracture clinic of our local hospital and an Orthopedic surgeon told me that they had made a right mess of the procedure at the Green and that he would operate to but things right, he then decided that he would refer me to his colleague a shoulder specialist, when I saw him he said that although the operation had not been carried out as he would have performed it, for fear of getting an infection he would leave it and remove the rod at a later date, I attended his clinic and physio for over a year and in the end he decided not to remove the rod as bone had grown over it. My treatment was carried out privately at the Green paid for by insurance. For medical issues on Tenerife it is in my opinion vital to be able to speak and understand Spanish or have a friend to translate for you, as the translators employed my the hospital act for them and perhaps do not ask the questions on your behalf.

Thanks Skeggy, I am beginning to think I had a very lucky escape. I am now glad that I didn't have private insurance, and that the Social Security stepped in and insisted on me being transferred to Candelaria.

Hospiten said they were going to put a rod in my leg, which worried me enormously. The situation you have just described is the reason why. I am massively allergic to metal, which I told them, and they said they would "try" to use titanium, which had the least chance of reaction. Try? I had visions of all kinds of rections/infections setting in, and could see them messing my leg up for good!

willowlily
04-02-2012, 12:04
after reading this thread it has made me think that if i ever find myself needing treatment here in tenerife i would if physically able be straight back on the plane to the uk. if it were not possible then as suggested i would question every procedure the doctors suggested, but of course if you are in a serious condition you may not be able to speak for yourself, then unless you have somebody that can fight your corner you are that their mercy. GOD FORBID
saying that i have paid for scans and tests here at the green hospital through
dr karen whitteker whom i use when in tenerife, instead of waiting for months in the uk. the same scans / tests costing upto 5 times more in the uk private sector

fonica
04-02-2012, 13:55
I went this morning to Excellent Medical to see the traumatologist.

When I first went in to see him, I didn't like him. He didn't ask anything about my leg, or look at my notes or x-rays. The first and only thing he did was ask if I had insurance. When I said no, he spent 10 mins talking to his colleagues, made a phone call, and asked to see my EH1C. This left me very confused as I knew that I would have to pay anyway, and was perturbed by his focus on the financial side, and not my leg.

They then sent me back out while they waited for a translator. When I went back in I then got yet another opinion. He said it needed pinning or plating, or that I could just have it re-plastered and it would heal, but would take 2-3 months. If I had the surgery, it would take 1 month less in plaster. When I pointed out that the orthopaedic doctor at Candelaria said it did not need surgery, and that it would only take 4-6 weeks in plaster, his reply was that he is a professional and that that was his professional opinion. But the doctor at Candelaria is also a professional, and that was his professional opinion. How are you supposed to know who is speaking the truth?

I told them there was no chance of me letting them operate. Would they put me through an unnecessary procedure to raise money? Would Candelaria not give me the necessary treatment to save money? Which doctor is the most highly qualified? How are you to know?

He then re-plastered me from toe to thigh, and re x-rayed me. He was actually very gentle when he did this, and didn't hurt me at all for which I was very grateful. He said that I have to see him again in 15 days, and that if I want to go back to England he will split the plaster for me, and give me a certificate to fly. I think this is what I will do, and finish my treatment there.

The bill to see the consultant, re-plaster and re x-ray, plus anti-coagulents for 30 days was 500€.

My leg is comfortable, and I am pain free, so for that I am grateful.

I am still however, very confused.
Just remember that both Excellent Medical Center and Hospiten are private businesses run to make a profit.The Candalaria is the only seguro social hospital on the island and it also runs the Mojon medical center and accident and emergency department.The best doctors work for the seguro social where they get decent working conditions.You would be advised to be very careful when going to private medical centers as many of their doctors are not employed by the center ,they just rent a room.If you do have a problem there isn't any accountability from the clinic.

carolethatch
04-02-2012, 14:44
Because as you all know, as Tom keeps telling you, I am extremely clumsy and accident prone, last Saturday night I fell and broke my leg. I was taking a short cut across the golf course in the dark, and stepped in a hole I couldn't see and snapped my leg! Extremely handy as Tom had gone back to the UK to work that morning. My parents are here on holiday, so I hadn't gone with him.

I knew immediately that I had broken it. There is no pain like broken bone pain. Our night watchman and my dad carried me to the side of the road, and called an ambulance. The ambulance took me to Hospiten Sur (The Green Clinic). We have no private health insurance here, and as neither of us ever spends more than 3 months at a time outside the UK, we have EH1C cards which entitle us to emergency care. This was accepted without question by the hospital. The care was no quicker (if not slower) than if I had been in England and admitted to A&E. I was admitted at 11pm, and was seen, x-rayed and admitted to a room at 6am. The following day was Sunday. The doctors came round in the morning, and told me it would need operating on and pinning, and that they would do it the next day. They told me it was an unstable fracture, and that the bones were out of line. They didn't show me the x-ray, but drew me a picture ??? I was extremely unhappy about letting them operate, as it had happened to me several years earlier in the UK when I broke my arm, and I had refused the surgery. My arm was simply manipulated back into place after I refused, and went on to heal perfectly. However, a leg is a different thing entirely.

The following day, I was on "nil by mouth" from midnight, and was prepared for surgery in the morning. Mid morning I was told it would be afternoon, as the theatres were full. At 2pm, I received a phone call from the doctor to tell me that the Social Security wanted me moving to Candelaria. An ambulance came to collect me from Candelaria at around 6pm.

When I reached Candelaria, it was extremely busy in Emergencias, just as it had been in Hospiten Sur. I was however seen almost immediately by the orthopaedic doctors. They looked at my x-rays from Hospiten (and showed them to me for the first time) and said the bones were not out of line, that it wasn't a displaced fracture, and it simply needed plastering. They gave me a morphine drip, and plastered it from toe to thigh. They told me to see a doctor in 10 days, to have it re x-rayed, and that I would need a new plaster at some stage and need to be in plaster for 6 weeks. They then took me straight back home in another ambulance.

I was extremely relieved to not have had surgery, but also very confused by the differing opinions. My friend here is a retired A&E sister from England, and came round the following day to look at the x-rays. She confirmed to me what Candelaria had said. That it wasn't a displaced fracture, and that in England it would not have been operated on.

This has left me feeling very suspicious of the private emergency care here. The doctor in Hospiten never showed me the x-ray, simply drew me a picture. Were they putting me through an unnecessary emergency procedure simply so that they could charge the Social Security for it? Do Social Security know that they sometimes do this, and insisted on me being transferred to Candelaria for a second opinion? I don't know what to think.

For my follow up treatment, I am going to Excellent Medical on Golf Del Sur (also private) I am having an x-ray on Friday and seeing the traumatologist to check that it is healing. I am very wary of them not telling me the truth in order to make money now. My scepticism may be unfounded though, and I will let you know on Friday what happens........................

Some lady friends, and myself came to stay in my apartment a while ago, and one of my friends fell and broke her arm. An ambulance was called, and she was taken to the green hospital, where she was told she would have to have it plastered, and stay in over night. She refused to stay in, as we were going home the following morning. They told her if she did not stay, they would not give her a certificate to fly home, so she stayed. Was allowed out in time to catch our flight, with her X-rays in an envelope. She went straight to our A&E, and found the envelope empty, was re x-rayed, and told it was not broken, but had been dislocated, and put its self back in place. She needed a year of physio and had a credit card bill for 1800euros, which was paid for by her insurance company. This scam has been on our T.V., warning people against this practice.

Tom & Sharon
04-02-2012, 15:11
Oh my God, it's getting worse and worse by each story.

Definitely glad I didn't let them operate now!

kingbaker
04-02-2012, 15:18
Very sorry to hear what's happened to you Sharon, I can imagine the pain you were in - I still remember from when I broke my arm and I was 5 at the time!! xx

Am shocked that you can remember that far back!!!!!!!!:crylaughing:

Tom & Sharon
23-02-2012, 17:40
Just a quick update on the story so far.

It will be 5 weeks on Saturday since I broke my leg, and 3 weeks since my last medical appointment which was at Excellent Medical. My leg does feel like it is healing and getting stronger, but I still cannot weight bear and am in a wheelchair.

Tom has to be back in the UK on Monday to work, and I am returning with him and placing myself in the hands of the NHS.

As per airline rules, I have to have a doctor's certificate to fly. I didn't really want to see the traumatologist at Excellent Medical again, as I didn't like him, and thought he would probably try to "milk" me for as much money as he could get. However, as it is very close by, and for ease, I thought I would enquire there.

I asked at reception if I could see just one of the general doctors to get a certificate to fly. It is €24.99 to see a doctor. I was told that I could not, without seeing the traumatologist again. He charges a review fee of €90, and (being the cynic that I am) I could see him saying he needed further x-rays before issuing a certificate, plus charging for the certificate itself. The receptionist told me she could not tell me how much it would cost, because he does the charging himself.

I rang Dr. Karen Whittaker's office in Los Cristianos, and was told it would be €30 to see her and for a certificate.

I went this morning, and have to say she was really lovely. She looked at my x-rays, and we had a little chat about my leg, and she issued me with the certificate to fly. It was a very pleasant experience, I didn't feel I was being exploited like in Excellent Medical, and I shall definitely use her again.

I will be at Warrington General next week, and will update on how they think my leg has been treated.....................

Suej
23-02-2012, 18:04
Just a quick update on the story so far.

It will be 5 weeks on Saturday since I broke my leg, and 3 weeks since my last medical appointment which was at Excellent Medical. My leg does feel like it is healing and getting stronger, but I still cannot weight bear and am in a wheelchair.

Tom has to be back in the UK on Monday to work, and I am returning with him and placing myself in the hands of the NHS.

As per airline rules, I have to have a doctor's certificate to fly. I didn't really want to see the traumatologist at Excellent Medical again, as I didn't like him, and thought he would probably try to "milk" me for as much money as he could get. However, as it is very close by, and for ease, I thought I would enquire there.

I asked at reception if I could see just one of the general doctors to get a certificate to fly. It is €24.99 to see a doctor. I was told that I could not, without seeing the traumatologist again. He charges a review fee of €90, and (being the cynic that I am) I could see him saying he needed further x-rays before issuing a certificate, plus charging for the certificate itself. The receptionist told me she could not tell me how much it would cost, because he does the charging himself.

I rang Dr. Karen Whittaker's office in Los Cristianos, and was told it would be €30 to see her and for a certificate.

I went this morning, and have to say she was really lovely. She looked at my x-rays, and we had a little chat about my leg, and she issued me with the certificate to fly. It was a very pleasant experience, I didn't feel I was being exploited like in Excellent Medical, and I shall definitely use her again.

I will be at Warrington General next week, and will update on how they think my leg has been treated.....................

Good luck Sharon glad it's all worked out and you are now healing well! :)

Tom & Sharon
23-02-2012, 18:06
Good luck Sharon glad it's all worked out and you are now healing well! :)

Let's just hope Warrington General think it is!

casabonny
23-02-2012, 22:31
Sorry that you have hurt yourself and are having so much conflict over the best treatment, but why have you not gone to majon if you are being seen to by the social? i think you should go to the A&E there to see whats going on, it is unfortunate that money seems to be the key point to the best treatment for you and it would put you off, I find the excellent medical centre always try to put add ons to bring the costs up, im afraid that their as bad as the green clinic for this. hope you get things sorted quickly.
I concur on that point re Excellent Medical .

Added after 7 minutes:

[QUOTE=Tom & Sharon;147320]Just a quick update on the story so far.

It will be 5 weeks on Saturday since I broke my leg, and 3 weeks since my last medical appointment which was at Excellent Medical. My leg does feel like it is healing and getting stronger, but I still cannot weight bear and am in a wheelchair.

Tom has to be back in the UK on Monday to work, and I am returning with him and placing myself in the hands of the NHS.

As per airline rules, I have to have a doctor's certificate to fly. I didn't really want to see the traumatologist at Excellent Medical again, as I didn't like him, and thought he would probably try to "milk" me for as much money as he could get. However, as it is very close by, and for ease, I thought I would enquire there.

I asked at reception if I could see just one of the general doctors to get a certificate to fly. It is €24.99 to see a doctor. I was told that I could not, without seeing the traumatologist again. He charges a review fee of €90, and (being the cynic that I am) I could see him saying he needed further x-rays before issuing a certificate, plus charging for the certificate itself. The receptionist told me she could not tell me how much it would cost, because he does the charging himself.

I rang Dr. Karen Whittaker's office in Los Cristianos, and was told it would be €30 to see her and for a certificate.

I went this morning, and have to say she was really lovely. She looked at my x-rays, and we had a little chat about my leg, and she issued me with the certificate to fly. It was a very pleasant experience, I didn't feel I was being exploited like in Excellent Medical, and I shall definitely use her again.
Please be VERY careful with this doctor .She has sorted you now but I would suggest you " check her out " before making any firm deccisions .Good luck in the UK

dede
23-02-2012, 23:21
Dr Whittaker is a lovely friendly doctor that makes you feel at ease instantly, but lets face it any medical services that you have to pay for here is first and foremost a business, its just that some are not out to just rip you off. Good luck in Warrington hospital Sharon although i would prefer Whiston if it was me.

AJP
23-02-2012, 23:47
Sharon a little tip........on Sunday..around 6 pm...please be careful...when Stevie G raises the cup ...dont forget about your leg......good luck

YOUNG GOLFER
24-02-2012, 00:22
Me and my family where at your house last week(which was really nice) and i understand you might not be able to do to much right now but i feel really sorry for Tom who's work load has more than doubled.
Tom needs a break.............. and i don't mean his leg lol.

Ian_N
24-02-2012, 01:30
This is hubby's log in so not mine but would like to say..
I went to Excellent medical last week as i had a dry mouth as in felt like i was chewing sand and this was going on for over a month.
As you do you look on the internet and hey comes up with diabetes so thought it might be that, so thought i will go there get a few tests.
The very young doctor i seen who was a woman no regards abouts that just read the pin prick result and said yes possible, so sent me for bloods the next day.
Had the blood test done and picked up the results yesterday, no doctor reading them to you they just give you them. So i read them in the car and didnt understand obviously but the young doctor was in the reception laughing with mates etc but she said she would tell me the results. We then went into her "office" and she read them i had my 8 yr old with me at the time and she said the results show " something up serious with your liver and there are bad cells there" i said possible infection or something or.. and she replied no serious..
So i frog marched myself to the green clinic today and seen a duty doctor who said he couldnt see much as its just a blood test and hes an emergency doctor but got me an appointmoint to see a specialist less than 2 hours after. ( I have seen this bloke before and was good)
Went in told him why i was there and he read the results from excellent and said no no , i have liver inflamation , yes not good but you should'nt get told its really serious as no ale for a while will sort. Doctor in Excellent said had loads of basically dodgy cells which what she should of said was enzymes. Something she flagged with me the cells but in non smokers a reading of under 3 is normal and smokers is under 9 i am a smoker and mine was 6.9 but she didnt flag it as ok. Cried buckets with what that doctor said in less than a day, making out i might not see my son again by the results "yes" she didnt say it but it is what you think. I will never go there again with a two bit operation only went because it was local. No one i know rates it.

TOTO 99
24-02-2012, 09:45
Let's just hope Warrington General think it is!

I was in Warrington General A&E the other day.
I'm not saying they're slow but the bloke in front of me had a musket wound...:laugh:

YOUNG GOLFER
24-02-2012, 11:23
I was in Warrington General A&E the other day.
I'm not saying they're slow but the bloke in front of me had a musket wound...:laugh:

Good one:crylaughing::crylaughing::crylaughing::crylaug hing::crylaughing::crylaughing::crylaughing:

offshore diver
24-02-2012, 16:43
I went this morning to Excellent Medical to see the traumatologist.

When I first went in to see him, I didn't like him. He didn't ask anything about my leg, or look at my notes or x-rays. The first and only thing he did was ask if I had insurance. When I said no, he spent 10 mins talking to his colleagues, made a phone call, and asked to see my EH1C. This left me very confused as I knew that I would have to pay anyway, and was perturbed by his focus on the financial side, and not my leg.

They then sent me back out while they waited for a translator. When I went back in I then got yet another opinion. He said it needed pinning or plating, or that I could just have it re-plastered and it would heal, but would take 2-3 months. If I had the surgery, it would take 1 month less in plaster. When I pointed out that the orthopaedic doctor at Candelaria said it did not need surgery, and that it would only take 4-6 weeks in plaster, his reply was that he is a professional and that that was his professional opinion. But the doctor at Candelaria is also a professional, and that was his professional opinion. How are you supposed to know who is speaking the truth?

I told them there was no chance of me letting them operate. Would they put me through an unnecessary procedure to raise money? Would Candelaria not give me the necessary treatment to save money? Which doctor is the most highly qualified? How are you to know?

He then re-plastered me from toe to thigh, and re x-rayed me. He was actually very gentle when he did this, and didn't hurt me at all for which I was very grateful. He said that I have to see him again in 15 days, and that if I want to go back to England he will split the plaster for me, and give me a certificate to fly. I think this is what I will do, and finish my treatment there.

The bill to see the consultant, re-plaster and re x-ray, plus anti-coagulents for 30 days was 500€.

My leg is comfortable, and I am pain free, so for that I am grateful.

I am still however, very confused. i don t rate the diagnoses here ,the green clinic said 2 yrs ago i had a 4 mm inguinal hernia ,and 6 months later cleared by the british hernia centre in london ,and since then perfect , so its something to bear in mind here in tenerife

Sunlover
24-02-2012, 23:40
Really sorry to hear of your broken leg Sharon and hope all your fears are unfounded when you conme back to the UK. This has been a really good thread, and as one who tends to test foreign hospitals, (I broke my leg in Portugal, and did not get private treatment, the hospital was like a MASH unit, plaster a bit rough and no painkillers, but treatment was correct).

I was wondering, we're coming out soon and have both the E1 card and private insurance, but how does it all work if you need to see a doctor? This Karen sounds good but can anyone request treatment with her? Adeje hospital sounds ok apart from Candelaria, but do they have A & E where you can just turn up? Got me wondering now.

Tom & Sharon
24-02-2012, 23:51
I was in Warrington General A&E the other day.
I'm not saying they're slow but the bloke in front of me had a musket wound...:laugh:

Had many a late night in Warrington A&E with the clumsy one,we're there that often we have a garden bench named after us !! :liar:


Me and my family where at your house last week(which was really nice) and i understand you might not be able to do to much right now but i feel really sorry for Tom who's work load has more than doubled.
Tom needs a break.............. and i don't mean his leg lol.

Thanks YG, good to see you, Michelle,Rosie and Georgia at Charlotte's first birthday party,quite how CIM and Maria have produced such a beautiful daughter is beyond me ;)

I'll be going in for physiotherapy on my back (pushing that wheelchair for two weeks) when Sharon attends the fracture clinic,don't know who'll be in the longest??

I'm sure Sharon will be on soon to update everyone after our experience today at Tenerife Airport rolleyes2:

Tom

doreen
25-02-2012, 01:19
I was wondering, we're coming out soon and have both the E1 card and private insurance, but how does it all work if you need to see a doctor? This Karen sounds good but can anyone request treatment with her? Adeje hospital sounds ok apart from Candelaria, but do they have A & E where you can just turn up? Got me wondering now.

Yes, anyone can call in to see Karen Whittaker - it is better to phone for an appointment as you will be seen first before people who just call in. You will be charged: your travel insurance should reimburse you, depending on what excess your policy has.

willowlily
25-02-2012, 12:31
i have used karen whittaker for 11 years and found her to be a very honest and capable doctor.when she sends any samples or you for tests to the hospital she is in control of the results and decides on furthur treatment if neccesary.
you do have to pay her fees direct but as doreen states your travel insurance will reimburse you if applicable.
what price do you put on your health

Tom & Sharon
25-02-2012, 16:30
Just another liittle tale from the airport...........

We got talking to a lady at the airport who was pushing her husband in a wheelchair. They had been on holiday, and he had had some kind of heart episode. He had been taken to the green clinic, where they had refused to accept his EH111 as they had told her it was a private hospital.

I don't know loads of details, but they had kept him in for 3 days, and she was taking him back to England.

She was horrified that they had charged them €3000 for a 3 night stay, that she had had to put on her credit card.

Something is very wrong with that. They can definitely take your EH111 for emergency care there, because they took mine, and I was in for 2 nights with no charge. Why would they tell an elderly couple, who were on holiday, that they couldn't if the man was in need of emergency heart care? And if it was the case (which I know it isn't) why would they not transfer him to Candelaria, where he could be treated under his EH111 for definite?

I am certain something is very wrong there.

Suej
25-02-2012, 16:55
Just another liittle tale from the airport...........

We got talking to a lady at the airport who was pushing her husband in a wheelchair. They had been on holiday, and he had had some kind of heart episode. He had been taken to the green clinic, where they had refused to accept his EH111 as they had told her it was a private hospital.

I don't know loads of details, but they had kept him in for 3 days, and she was taking him back to England.

She was horrified that they had charged them €3000 for a 3 night stay, that she had had to put on her credit card.

Something is very wrong with that. They can definitely take your EH111 for emergency care there, because they took mine, and I was in for 2 nights with no charge. Why would they tell an elderly couple, who were on holiday, that they couldn't if the man was in need of emergency heart care? And if it was the case (which I know it isn't) why would they not transfer him to Candelaria, where he could be treated under his EH111 for definite?

I am certain something is very wrong there.

Something is very wrong there! my OH was admitted to the Green Hospital last year and the E111 was accepted without a problem even though it was out of date they let me phone the UK who faxed over a new document to the Hospital within minutes!

Tom & Sharon
25-02-2012, 17:23
I was in Warrington General A&E the other day.
I'm not saying they're slow but the bloke in front of me had a musket wound...:laugh:

Went to Warrington A&E this morning at 11.00am, booked in,seen by a triage nurse and an appointment made for the fracture clinic on Wednesday next week all in 30 minutes :wow:

Faith somewhat restored in the NHS, as the front page of the Warrington Guardian newspaper talked of 6hr queues for treatment last Monday, their busiest day ever on record :pray:

bonitatime
25-02-2012, 20:34
Just another liittle tale from the airport...........

We got talking to a lady at the airport who was pushing her husband in a wheelchair. They had been on holiday, and he had had some kind of heart episode. He had been taken to the green clinic, where they had refused to accept his EH111 as they had told her it was a private hospital.

I don't know loads of details, but they had kept him in for 3 days, and she was taking him back to England.

She was horrified that they had charged them €3000 for a 3 night stay, that she had had to put on her credit card.

Something is very wrong with that. They can definitely take your EH111 for emergency care there, because they took mine, and I was in for 2 nights with no charge. Why would they tell an elderly couple, who were on holiday, that they couldn't if the man was in need of emergency heart care? And if it was the case (which I know it isn't) why would they not transfer him to Candelaria, where he could be treated under his EH111 for definite?

I am certain something is very wrong there.

Because if they think they can get away with charging they will.

warbey
25-02-2012, 20:51
I was talking to a Waitress last week.
They appear to treat the Spanish exactly the same....

Pets@Home
25-02-2012, 20:51
Something is very wrong there! my OH was admitted to the Green Hospital last year and the E111 was accepted without a problem even though it was out of date they let me phone the UK who faxed over a new document to the Hospital within minutes!

FOOD 4 THOUGHT ...............

In 1998, I remember it well, I came to Tenerife for 5 days.
On the second day I had severe food poisioning and I lost my Transplant of some 17 years.
I had an out of date E111, and travel insurance.
My travel insurer did not want to know, long story, one year later recvd comp for 15,000 sterling .........
I DIGRESS ..............
Had an urgent E111 faxed over for treatment, and recvd 3 months of Diaysis and an operation to put a
fistula in .......
All in All 26,000 pounds sterling, is what I signed for .......... PHEW !!!!!!!!!!! thank god for the invention of fax ............

Just to let u know, if anyone is interested, I recv a perfect match kidney, Jan 2000, and moved to Tenerife in
August 2000, still here and thriving in Feb 2012 lol ........ who says u cant create yr own future, best move I have ever made, the Social Service for Health Care is second to none, with my Specialist NEVER leaving a stone unturned .........
ITS CALLED FATE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THE PATH OF LIFE ...............

sunseeker
25-02-2012, 21:34
ive never had a problem with the spanish social care. the parking at the mojon is always terible and id advise you to rip a ticket at the front desk before your appointment to save the wait afterwards, as youre usually in and out within 15 mins of the time of your appointment and if you have to make a return visit the wait to make the return visit is often longer than the time it takes for your appt!!! service is second to none tho.

Nic
25-02-2012, 22:06
I have to be honest and say I would rather be admitted to a third world hospital than to Hospiten. My daughter, who was two when she was admitted to Hospiten, received shocking treatment. I had taken her to El Mojon because we couldn't get her temperature down. The doctors there sounded her over and said that her chest was fine, ears etc and said that it could possible be a urine infection but the didn't have the necessary equipment to carry out a cultivation there. They sent me to Hospiten. We arrived at 4pm and my two year old was admitted at 11pm with pneumonia......or so they said. She was released a week later and her doctor said there was no way she had pneumonia or she would still be in there and it would have been noticed at El Mojon. That's just half the story, my list of complaints went on and on. I complained and was told that what I was saying was untrue even though two other mums in the same room complained about the same issues. Hospiten only do things for the money in my opinion but for any problems, I will always go to Candelaria where the treatment is second to none!

sunseeker
25-02-2012, 22:09
mojon has an urgencias now to.

Tom & Sharon
16-03-2012, 18:27
Well I've been back in the UK for 3 weeks now. I've been to Warrington hospital 3 times, and have to say was dealt with very efficiently and pleasantly each time.

My leg is mending without surgery, and the doctors here have not suggested that I should have had surgery. I now have a small light plaster on, but am not allowed to weight bear for 3 months which I knew.

If I had had the surgery in Hospiten, I would have undergone a procedure which in my opinion would have been unnecessary. I really didn't want a rod in my leg, as I am very allergic to metal, and I'm sure could have caused more problems. When I think about how I was treated there now, it was really quite bad. I was not asked for my thoughts or opinions like in the UK, and was given no options. When I asked what they could do for me without surgery, the answer I received was a very terse "I can do nothing"!!

Candelaria were right in that I did not need surgery and that it would mend without.

I have looked at holiday insurance, and we can get annual multi trip insurance for the 2 of us, with a maximum stay of 31 days per trip, for the measly sum of £24.50 per year. As we don't normally stay longer than 31 days at a time, I am going to take this out. It has medical cover up to £10m.

However, after my recent experience, if a similar thing were to happen again (God forbid) I would have no hesitation in telling a lie, and saying I had no private insurance. That way emergency care would be given by Candelaria and would not be dictated/given purely by how much money could be made by the private sector. The private cover would just be to fall back on for minor things. For anything major, I would want to be treated by the state system.

I think I understand now why private hospitals in Britain do not offer emergency care. For A&E you have to go to the NHS where money is not the main consideration.

carolethatch
16-03-2012, 19:12
We always take a year cover, and don't stay longer than 31 days, but you can expand the number of days to 45 without too much of a hike in price.

Tom & Sharon
18-06-2012, 11:27
It's now 21 weeks since I broke my leg.

I had my cast off at 13 weeks, and went into the walking boot shown in the avatar. I returned immediately to Tenerife, and have done 2 hrs a day physio in the pool, practicing walking and swimming. I have had no professional physio.

I can now fully weight bear, and can walk short distances with no crutches. It's just a case now of building up the distance and getting my confidence back. I am still very afraid of falling again, and the pavements and ground in Tenerife are shocking!

I go back to the UK on Friday for my hospital check up, and am expecting to be discharged.

Anyone who has a similar accident here needs to be very careful of unnecessary procedures being carried out for profit. If I had had private insurance, I would now have a metal rod in my leg which I would not have needed, and who knows what problems that could cause in the future? I could have been left with a lifetime of problems, and in the meantime there would have been an extra (probably) 10,000€ in the coffers at Hospiten. I can't see there being much change out of that for an orthopaedic surgical team plus anaesthetist. It could have even been more!

A nice little earner for private hospitals in a holiday area. I bet they rub their hands every time a tourist comes in with a broken limb!

Su1
18-06-2012, 12:05
Pleased to hear all is going well.

Angusjim
18-06-2012, 13:24
Hi Sharon
Glad to hear you are on the mend

Jim

littlepeter
21-06-2012, 04:12
I feel sorry to you !!Your experience is very poor!

carpdaught1
21-06-2012, 15:59
my husband tripped and fractured a rib went to green hospital was asked for insurance xrayed and admitted within 2 hrs as he also had a hematoma behind rid .he suffers with angina and was asked did he want oh bugger cant remember the name any wayu its putting a fine line through main vein in groin to heart so they can take a look he said no thanks had one in england .food was disgusting had to take in take aways nurse would throw not pass pkt to me to add to his water father christmas visited lol gave him bag sweets discharged on the monday had to pay 70 euros excess no problem but had to wait 5hrs for fax they said from insurance company i was back and fro to office eventually got the fax it had been sitting there for5hrs had no need to sit there but when we left no xrays not sure id take hubby again but he insisted even though adeje was nearer next time he will do as his bloodywell told lol