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View Full Version : Health How good are the hospitals in Tenerife? Is there a stroke unit?



enac
03-01-2013, 22:35
Hi. My parents have been going to Los Cristianos for the past 15 years. Now at the age of 84 and having had two strokes, they are insisting on going again in February for eight weeks. My concern is if he has another stroke while he is out there, is there a specialist stroke unit anywhere who could care for him ?

I don't want them to go but they think they are Superman and Superwoman and nothing will happen to them.

Can someone assure me he would be taken care of or am I right in thinking there is no unit/specialist care ?

Also, due to current and previous medical problems, neither have insurance. Yep, I know............

Martin

bonitatime
04-01-2013, 09:42
The hospitals in Santa Cruz are both very good. And as they have no Insurance they would end up there. Please make sure they at least have their EHIC card with them.

Skeggy
04-01-2013, 09:48
They should'nt go, give it to them straight if he has another stroke your Mum would not be able to cope unless you go somewhere private there are no interpreters. I am sorry to be so blunt he is a selfish old sod.....tell him for his own sake......
Apologies.....

Megaloo
04-01-2013, 09:59
If they are really determined then the consolation is that the hospital in Santa Cruz is excellent.

My Husband was taken there with query having another stroke the treatment he had was first class. Yes language can be a problem but they need to be prepared to pay an interpreter although we were lucky that his Doctor spoke good English but of course you cannot rely on the fact they will.

primrose
04-01-2013, 10:21
They should'nt go, give it to them straight if he has another stroke your Mum would not be able to cope unless you go somewhere private there are no interpreters. I am sorry to be so blunt he is a selfish old sod.....tell him for his own sake......
Apologies.....

Might be blunt but so true. If he had another stroke their EHIC card would not be enough. You didn't say if they were staying down south but he would have to go in Hospital in the North so it would be a case of your Mother traveling every day to visit or finding another apartment up there. They would have to pay for an Interpreter and if he had a bad stroke how would he get back to England without a letter saying he was fit to fly, that's what private Insurance is for they fly you home you would not that get that with just an EHIC.I live here and have a disabled husband and know how hard it is no way would I advise them to come on Holiday,If he did have a stroke they could be stranded here for months.I might be wrong but I don't think there is much aftercare available here it seems to be left to the Family.

enac
04-01-2013, 11:16
Thanks for your replies.

Trust me, I have tried to stop them going and it just turns out getting everyone upset, even my daughter has contacted the airline to tell them she thinks they are unfit to fly !

They stay in Los Cristianos so will have to travel to the hospital and they don't speak Spanish. I guess we will just have to keep our fingers crossed but at least it's a little reassuring to hear the hospitals are good.

PS. Primrose, no need to apologise, I totally agree !

Martin

primrose
04-01-2013, 11:24
They will do it their way no matter what you say, but the people on Tenerife Forum are second to none when it comes to helping people so I am sure if anything did happen there would be members ready to help.

fonica
04-01-2013, 12:46
I suppose the other side to this story is two 80+year olds having to decide never to go anywhere again just in case they get sick.Maybe the thought of accepting that you are too old to do the things that you enjoy would become a living death.If they get sick here then it would be a problem but at least they would be doing what they want to do with the end of thier lives and they may live many more years and continue to travel without problems.You will worry all the time they are away but they will be having fun.It's a bit like having teenagers who are out of control!!!If there is a problem we'll sort it so try not to worry too much.

kiwiphil
04-01-2013, 13:05
I suppose the other side to this story is two 80+year olds having to decide never to go anywhere again just in case they get sick.Maybe the thought of accepting that you are too old to do the things that you enjoy would become a living death.If they get sick here then it would be a problem but at least they would be doing what they want to do with the end of thier lives and they may live many more years and continue to travel without problems.You will worry all the time they are away but they will be having fun.It's a bit like having teenagers who are out of control!!!If there is a problem we'll sort it so try not to worry too much.

I agree. My parents are traveling as much as they can while they can. Dad has had a triple by-pass and now has a pacemaker. There is a difference between living and just being alive. My grandmother spent 15 years in a care home after a stroke, and I'm sure she'd have swapped them all for a couple of years without issues.

fonica
04-01-2013, 13:34
Isn't it a shame that there isn't a holiday insurance for the over 80's that just gets them home in the case of emergency because whilst they are in Europe they are covered with local hospital treatment the only problem is if they need to get back to the UK with a medical team rather than a normal flight.It can cost a fortune but I'm sure it doesn't happen that often.

Suej
04-01-2013, 13:40
Hi. My parents have been going to Los Cristianos for the past 15 years. Now at the age of 84 and having had two strokes, they are insisting on going again in February for eight weeks. My concern is if he has another stroke while he is out there, is there a specialist stroke unit anywhere who could care for him ?

I don't want them to go but they think they are Superman and Superwoman and nothing will happen to them.

Can someone assure me he would be taken care of or am I right in thinking there is no unit/specialist care ?

Also, due to current and previous medical problems, neither have insurance. Yep, I know............

Martin

Sorry if this sounds morbid but there is a limit on how many strokes a human body can tolerate! It might be best for them to reconsider the journey in the circumstances! Only my opinion for what it is worth!:sorry:

Vortex Wake
04-01-2013, 13:48
ENAC, welcome to the forum - I commiserate with you as I have both a mother and father who have had strokes in later life.

I think the emphasis is not on the quality of care available in Tenerife - but the costs associated with the possible long term care requirements.

Hopefully,the info in my links below are not NOT needed in anyway :)




http://www.strokeunitglos.nhs.uk/strokeunitgl281987.html

'A stroke can affect a persons chance of getting good insurance cover. Many travel insurance policies may exclude pre-existing conditions or impose terms that are unacceptable. It is vital that you check with your insurer to confirm that any conditions you may have are covered. You have a duty to disclose any material facts to the travel insurance company. This may include what pre-existing medical conditions you have. Other information needed will be medication details, further treatment details and anything else that may be at all relevant. Standard travel insurance may offer cover on request, for an extra premium, and sometimes with limitations and restrictions.

The alternative is to look for a specialist insurer who offer or can arrange specialist cover to people with illnesses. The Stroke Association have set up an insurance service for stroke victims called the Stroke Association Insurance Service. Other providers are also available and we would suggest comparing prices and cover before deciding.'





http://www.iasmedical.com/page/89/air-ambulance-from-canaries-to-UK

'We are confident that our air ambulance service is widely used, fully approved and second to none.

Our prices from the Canary Islands start from as low as £19,500 !'

enac
04-01-2013, 14:20
Isn't it a shame that there isn't a holiday insurance for the over 80's that just gets them home in the case of emergency because whilst they are in Europe they are covered with local hospital treatment the only problem is if they need to get back to the UK with a medical team rather than a normal flight.It can cost a fortune but I'm sure it doesn't happen that often.

That is another of my worries. A friend of my parents went to Florida where he had a heart attack. This caused other problems and he had to be flown home with some equipment and a career. Al this cost £25,000. In my fathers case, his stroke set off mild dementia. He also had a hip replacement 6 months ago and has had two stents and bowel cancer. These are just the big things, there is more. Hard as it is for them, they should call it a day and stay home. I helped them get to Tenerife last year and stayed a week with them but can't do it this year due to work. They are determined to go so I guess there's not much I can do about it it hope they are ok.

Pooh
04-01-2013, 15:24
The treatment here is excellent - I know that from first hand experience - and the EHIC cards covers what is needed in that regard, (as opposed to Florida), so I wouldn't worry about that part.
The problem - or rather the costly part - would be to get transport back to UK, if/when that will be needed.

primrose
04-01-2013, 15:34
The treatment here is excellent - I know that from first hand experience - and the EHIC cards covers what is needed in that regard, (as opposed to Florida), so I wouldn't worry about that part.
The problem - or rather the costly part - would be to get transport back to UK, if/when that will be needed.

That is not the only problem,if he has a another stroke what on earth does his wife do , stay here where she knows nobody doesn't speak the language or go back to England and leave him on his own in Hospital here, will his relatives have to take time off from work and come and stay over here nobody knows how long if it happened he would be in Hospital and I am speaking as somebody whose Husband was in Hospital eight months and thank goodness it was in England where I was only thee miles from the Hospital and spoke the language. There comes a time when you have to realise your capabilities and reading about this gentleman's condition then I would say don't do it.

anegib
26-07-2013, 09:11
Can anyone help me please? Thought I was going to Tomi Cana in Santa Cruz to get a mole checked, but lady phoned yesterday with appointment date and said to go to La Torre. Does anyone know where this is?

garlicbread
26-07-2013, 12:45
Can anyone help me please? Thought I was going to Tomi Cana in Santa Cruz to get a mole checked, but lady phoned yesterday with appointment date and said to go to La Torre. Does anyone know where this is?

Haven't a clue what you're talking about and it is also off topic but if you need help I suggest you contact Tracey Jordan at Tenerife Translation Services 922733210 or 666857991 who helps people, who are not fluent in Spanish, with hospital visits