Advice re: Medical Evacuation Cape Verde

thefuzzbox

Hi,


I'm in a bit of a pickle, so any practical advice needed:

• My mother (69) on holiday in Cape Verde with father (80) - through Tui at a resort.
• On Fri 24th, she fell on wet tiles, and snapped her femur.
• Since then, she's been in a clinic which is not set up for surgery so has just been receiving pain relief.
• She is insured (World First) and yesterday insurers confirmed they are happy with the medical declarations (pre-existing medical conditions) we made - no issue on cover.
• The clinic she is in have indicated the bone is beginning to heal incorrectly, and will consequently need breaking again.
• I've been in touch with the medics (emergencyassistance) that the insurers outsource to but they seem to be taking an eternity to make a decision as to what to do - despite agreeing she is in urgent need of surgery - they have promised a definitive decision in terms of way forward later this morning
• The clinic she is in have indicated the bone is beginning to heal incorrectly, and will consequently need breaking again. This current clinic feel she is fit to fly back to the UK and are bemused as to why the insurers haven't.
• My father received a call yesterday from the insurers medical team that suggests their proposed course of action is to move her to the largest hospital in Cape Verde - and are referencing a hip replacement (but they only have one type of hip?)
• All that I read online suggest that due to limited facilities/medicines the hospitals on the islands are simply not set up for major surgery
• I have called the FCO to see what (if any) support they could offer, and with it being an honorary consulate with an interface through Lisbon, they were supportive but quite clear they couldn't influence anything.

My options seem to be:
1) Take insurers medical advice and have her moved to this other hospital on the islands.
2) Separately organize my own medical evac for her (which incredibly might be doable from a financial standpoint, as I'd just re-mortgaged to pay for some planned building work).


My gut tells me that it will have to be 2 - in which case, does anyone have any positive experience of a similar scenario, who could offer any suggestions as to how to go about doing this?

hollydays

What does her uk doctor say

hollydays

It’s difficult when youre hearing medical decisions second hand.
I have known of situations where making a statement on the companies Facebook or twitter feed have good results- but you’d need to be sure of your facts before doing that.
I’d be getting your mother’s permission to speak to the claims dept in uk and be very assertive and only deal with them

hollydays

Can we rule out she’s on Brava or santa Antão

Westin

What a horrid situation for your family to be in.

Have YOU spoken with the team on the insurers medical assistance line? They would normally have consulted with their own medical experts as well as the medical team at the local hospital/clinic and could hopefully tell you why they are recommending this course of action (or inaction). Perhaps they think that long journeys or an airlift at this time would agrivate the situation?

If you look on this insurers website towards the bottom they give the name of the managing director. Seems that he is open to contact and comments. Perhaps reach out to him and ask if he could answer your questions.

https://www.world-first.co.uk/home/contact-us.aspx

thefuzzbox

Thanks for the replies to date.

In terms of her UK Doctor, I've managed to wangle an appointment to go and see him at 10.20am. I'm hoping on the basis that he did processed the consent for insurers to have her medical records that he might be in possession of her medical report from the clinic.

She is in a clinic in Santa Maria on the island of Sal.

I have been in contact with the insurers medical team over the last couple of days. Once I pass data protection they're OK to discuss with me, but to date I've only received the frontline team (who whilst polite are understandably either reluctant or unable to provide more info). I'll ring them again shortly and try and get clarity for their proposed course of action.

Thank you for the contact details of the manager etc I'll also try that after speaking with the Doctor/Insurance team if I don't get what I need.

.

I will update again a bit later, but thank you.

hollydays

Aww x good luck xx

hollydays

Can you get something in writing from her before you speak to doc that’s she consents to youdealing with this- it may be crucial for data protection.
May sound silly but even a video of her saying it too( just thinking on my feet here)

karcher

No advice just wanted to say good luck OP and please keep us posted.

thefuzzbox

Fair play - that suggestion of contacting the MD seems to have paid off. I received a reply within 10 mins stating he has sent an immediate email to the medical ops team, and will follow up throughout the day to 'try and move things forward in a much better manner'.

I've also suggested getting my father to record my mother with the video statement of consent (I do have one of those health power of attorney things but guess it's about as much use as a chocolate teapot right now).

Off to Doctor's shortly - will update after that.

thefuzzbox

A brief update:


My visit to her UK Doctor reinforced that ordinarily the course of action would be to ensure surgery asap, and is of the belief the most appropriate course of action would be repatriation to the UK.

I spoke with the consultant at the clinic she is based in who confirmed a) my mother is stable (b) is not in traction (c) is receiving just painkillers and blood thinning drugs (d) that she does not believe the potential other hospital on Cape Verde is appropriate for such major surgery or the recovery that will be required afterwards.

An interesting twist is that after completing the above, I called the Insurers medical outsourced group for an update (having not received the promised call). They are now refusing to discuss with me. No stated reason given, aside from all communication with their medical team needing to be through my 80 year old father. This despite him expressly stating he wanted me to deal with it, and me informing them I have the Lasting Power of Attorney for Health Matters for my mother - but to no avail.

I provided a brief email update to the MD@WorldFirst on the above. I'm just hoping he can bash heads together.