Operations abroad

Treen

My 20 year old son has had a knee injury playing football. An MRI scan had shown that he needs ACL reconstruction. The NHS waiting list in our area is 1 - 2 years and of course he will not be able to play football until fully recovered after the op. Of course to a 20 year old football fanatic this is a major catastropy and he has been thinking of ways he could have it sooner. To have it done privately in this country it costs around £4,000 - £5,000. He was wondering whether it would be cheaper abroad (maybe France) but don't know anyone who has done this or how much it would cost. If anyone out there has had an operation abroad or knows how we could get it done sooner and cheaper I would be extremely grateful.

Thanks in anticipation

Treen

Jiggly

Hi there,

Before you consider paying privately check your local acute hospital waiting times on the Department of Health Website here.

http://www.performance.doh.gov.uk/waitingtimes/2004/q3/az.html
Waiting times from referal to inpt admission are down to approx 6mnths, this is a national target, therefore your local trust is seriously underperforming if they are quoting you 1-2 yrs (Unacceptable). In December everyone will have the right to choose from several hospitals to have their surgery, some will have shorter waiting lists. Give your local Primary Care Trust a ring and ask who their 'choice providers' are and if they have an independant sector treatment centre, again waiting times shorter.

Hope this helps.

Jiggly

Katykat

I faced a similar problem. Had an operation earlier this year, but needed another more extensive one, told that I had to go back on orthopaedic waiting list, 6-9 months. I could not face such a wait, so I contacted www.medibroker.co.uk who were more than helpful. A lovely lady called Helen McGreavey sorted out for me to travel to Belgium. OH was going with me, he was able to stay in the hotel part of the hospital at a cost of £15 p. night. At the time I was dealing with this, I also wrote to the Chief Executive of my local hospital to complain about the length of the wait. On the day I got my date to go to Belgium ( only 2 weeks after contacting them) I also got a date to have operation at local hospital. Waited only 6 weeks after all. So, 1st, write a letter. If you get no joy and decide to go private, try the above link

Smiley_Mum

Heard from a friend recently that she knew of someone who had an operation in Belgium, lapband for weight loss etc, cost £2,500 I think, compared to £6,000-£7,000 privately in this country. Successful, has to have maintenance ops every so often and they were costing £100 each time now she can get the maintenance ops done in Edinburgh for I think £40 a time, something to do with a saline injection or something, not too sure.