medical treatment ?

[jann]

Hi, I was just wondering if any one has any personal experiences regarding medical treatment whilst in Plakias ? or any information at all about doctors and the nearest hospital facilities?    Thanks Jann

[Butties]

Hi, I was just wondering if any one has any personal experiences regarding medical treatment whilst in Plakias ? or any information at all about doctors and the nearest hospital facilities?    Thanks Jann

Jann,
Three years ago while in resort at CC's my 18 year old daughter suffered a really nasty arterial nose bleed. My wife is a nurse and she could not stop the bleeding and knew we had a problem. We contacted the local doctor who practices out of the small chemists / medical centre just off the main drag using a contact number we had been given by the Olympic rep.
This has taught us the importance of knowing these things.

I think it was about 6 or 7 o'clock in the evening. He came out promptly but that may have been because he was actually at the centre at the time, not sure how long it would have taken if he had not been in resort. He diagnosed the problem, basically 'plugged' the leak and told us that we had to go immediately to the nearest hospital at Rethymno. Fortunately we always have a hire car and do a fair bit of driving around so this was no real problem, it took about 45 minutes including finding the hospital which was fairly straight forward.

The hospital staff were really good, even the locals who were waiting in what I imagine was the A and E department let us skip to the front of the queue as my daughter did look a bit of a mess. There did not seem to be any formal reception or taking of details and at first we did wander around trying to work out where we needed to go. Fortunately both the doctors who saw my daughter; a Greek and an Italian, spoke very good english.

They sorted the problem at no charge; they did not ask for E111s or anything, and refered us back to the local GP in resort for follow up treatmet. He however did charge us about £80 in total, for the visit I think and medication we had to buy. Never got any of that back from our insurance. Probably would have said no anyway as we did not offer our E111 or some such excuse, but at the time you are really thinking about sorting the problem and not the paperwork.

Hope this helps, anythink else please ask.

Butties.

[jann]

Thanks for that information Butties. It  sounds like you had a reasonably positive experience thank goodness.

 The reason I'm asking is that my OH has quite a complicated medical history and still has current problems with his heart and kidney failure

 We have been wanting to re visit Plakias for a long time now  but because of all these problems have been unable to. I have recently discovered this site and am trying to work out a way that we may be able to do it. Another major stumbling block is Insurance. A lot of companies refuse to consider him at all and those that will, more than double the cost of the holiday !

  Assuming we may be able to get over that hurdle this is why I thought I would ask if anyone had experience of the medical facilities !

I don't think when you're fit and healthy it is something you normally worry abpout but it's a major problem for us now.

I thought the nearest hospital was in Rethymnon, thanks for that. Will make some more enquiries  Cheers Jann

[Stuart & Hilary]

Hi, I was just wondering if any one has any personal experiences regarding medical treatment whilst in Plakias ? or any information at all about doctors and the nearest hospital facilities?    Thanks Jann

Yes and all positive. Hilary broke her wrist in Sougia in 2005. This resulted in a taxi ride to Chania hospital where (would this happen in the UK) the taxi driver took us to reception, waited and then escorted us through corridors to the doctor. We were seen straight away  and then taken by the taxi driver to the xray room. He then arranged for a Chania taxi to take us back to Sougia. The wrist was set and 1.30hr after arriving we were on our way back to Sougia. We had two hospital visits, doctor's checks in Sougia and again in Plakias. (in Plakias we had to get a letter from the doctor stating that Hilary was fit to fly with the plaster on) at no stage were we asked for an E111 & no charges were raised. The insurance company repaid all our taxi fares. Chania hospital is a very modern hospital and our experience of hospitals changed once we got back to the UK to Torquay and queues.

Stuart

[Allan Barham]

I just came across this:

http://www.ics.forth.gr/eHealth/AK_ISHIMR2...Proceedings.pdf

It would seem that Crete is better equipped to respond to emergencies than the London Ambulance Service in terms of paramedic support although I wouldn't bank on an 8 minute response time to Plakias!

Allan

[jann]

Stuart, Hilary and Allan,

Many thanks for your replies. I'm quite pleasantly surprised at how positive they are !

I was half expecting to be disappointed but just the opposite in fact !

  Allan, that link is great. You are right, the emergency services  sound fantastic , really well equipped! but then I know the Greeks have some fantastic doctors.

It's certainly giving us more food for thought  

[Chas]

.... Another major stumbling block is Insurance. A lot of companies refuse to consider him at all and those that will, more than double the cost of the holiday ! ...

I have a dodgy medical history and faced the same problems with finding insurance - until I stumbled onto this site http://www.cheepinsurance.co.uk/ - basically, if you are {A} alive and {B} not diagnosed as dying, you're fit to insure ... and they are cheap, too.

[jann]

 Thanks for that info Chas, will check that out. Cheers Jann

[jenny]

As an insurance broker I couldn't resist clicking - for info, the underwriters are well-kown (ACE European - used to be called Cigna) and extremely reputable.

[jann]

Thats good to know Jenny, thanks.

Unfortunately my husband died 8 weeks ago so we never made it !   But I notice they do insurance for 'singles ' too, so who knows ? Maybe next year ?  

Jann

[harribobs]

very sorry to hear that Jann

[Ploppy]

My condolences Jann on this sad news.

[Tony and Sandra Smith]

Sorry to hear your news. Our thoughts go out to you.

[jann]

Many thanks for your thoughts, Harribobs, Ploppy, Tony and Sandra you are very kind.
 
We loved it so much that I will have to try and pluck up courage to go back to Plakias on my own if need be next year  
I don't suppose I'll be the only one  

Regards Jann

[harribobs]

i think if you choose a time later in the year, which is when the majority of the forum go, you definitely won't be on your own