Coalsnaughton man stranded in Philippines with huge hospital bill

[tiger31]

its nice to read your smart know it all comments, i'm not an inexperienced traveller and took a bank worker at his work, i may have got things wrong, but it is down to ignorance on my part, unfunny and uncalled for comments

If your not an inexperienced traveller how did you get yourself into this mess ? there are plenty of posts on here about the priority of medical funds to have at hand whilst travelling here .and calling us for making smart know it all comments won,t find you many friends on here.The people on here add valuable information for travellers with their experience on their travels.my take on this is ,you thought you were getting a bargain and it has backfired on you .well I hope lessons were learned on your trip and it won,t be repeated.

[grahamw48]

If he's a member of FilUK, we'll no doubt be getting a report in due course.

[dougie]

sorry about the errors in the above post, i am an inexperienced traveller* constructive criticism is very welcome, but no need for the nasty name calling, and the tax payer will not pay the bill, i will

[dougie]

Thank you Mark, but a very costly mistake, i better learn quickly, Dougie

[dougie]

Hi tiger the comments have been corrected, i am inexperienced, and to be called a total chump and an idiot by someone who does'nt know the circumstances was uncalled for, and not very wellcoming hopefully i'll learn from you all. Dougie

[tiger31]

Hi tiger the comments have been corrected, i am inexperienced, and to be called a total chump and an idiot by someone who does'nt know the circumstances was uncalled for, and not very wellcoming hopefully i'll learn from you all. Dougie

have you paid the bill yet?

[gWaPito]

............................................ ... that's one of the MAIN reasons I'd never so much as contemplate settling in the Philippines. ... health insurance would cost me a fortune.

I bet it would cost most of us on here a fortune. That's for the type of insurance worth the paper it's printed on.

I've just had to review my life cover. ..that isn't cheap either but, needs must.

[gWaPito]

Hi tiger the comments have been corrected, i am inexperienced, and to be called a total chump and an idiot by someone who does'nt know the circumstances was uncalled for, and not very wellcoming hopefully i'll learn from you all. Dougie

I agree. I've just read the offending post,
there wasn't any need for that. Always best to keep in mind we are all in glass houses

[stevewool]

all is well that ends well,

[dougie]

have you paid the bill yet?

no, the hospital have accepted a deposit with the balance to be paid off, waiting for flights that can supply oxygen

[stevewool]

so where are you now then dougie, still in hospital, or somewhere else, and have you a final account of the cost that will have to be paid ,

[stevewool]

I bet it would cost most of us on here a fortune. That's for the type of insurance worth the paper it's printed on.

I've just had to review my life cover. ..that isn't cheap either but, needs must.

life cover, well most need it but its for someone else to enjoy once you have gone

[fred]

We have just had two nasty little dramas in a R.P hospital in Bohol.. I have to say that the amount of service this spotlessly clean and modern hospital by nurses and doctors can only be commended.
Although the Doctors may have overcharged us a little in local terms,I for one certainly do not feel ripped off...On the contrary..
Very very happy with end result.

[stevewool]

At last someone who is on the ground,
We all have to pay for this and that and in any good house hold we budget, now if you dont budget thats when the trouble starts,
Glad it all turned out well Fred

[gWaPito]

life cover, well most need it but its for someone else to enjoy once you have gone

In my case, it's a necessity. ..I've got babies and their mother to provide for.

[stevewool]

In my case, it's a necessity. ..I've got babies and their mother to provide for.

Yes you are right Mark,

[fred]

At last someone who is on the ground,
We all have to pay for this and that and in any good house hold we budget, now if you dont budget thats when the trouble starts,
Glad it all turned out well Fred

I`ll be quite honest with you Steve.. Ive had very bad experiences in the UK in regards Doctors and hospitals as well as in Luzon in the past..Horror stories..

My last experience of hospitals in the UK was when I was hit from behind whilst driving a small van on the A1 M by a nutter in a fully loaded Mercedes van that hit me from behind going around 90 MPH whilst I was going around 40 MPH due to traffic..
It caused a 2 hour tail back and I was in bad shape..I was knocked out,spun around and out for about 30 minutes before the old bill and fire services got me out..
My 8 hour visit to the E.R was so bad that I had to make the desicion to check myself out(against the advice of doctors and staff) and I was in a bad way..


This last episode of R.P private health care has put my old perceptions of hospitals in parts of Luzon in a completely different light..
Very proffessionaldoctors in a modern hospital along side excellent nurses with 24 hour care..
I`m very impressed with the way we were served inside HNU hospital here in Tagbilaran city over the last 3 days.
Phil health paid around 1/3rd of the bill..
We are looking at local health insurance and I will post any findings of such once we inquire..
Cheers,
Fred.

[Terpe]

Fred, sorry to learn that hospital treatments were needed....but glad to learn you had good experiences.

I'm not good with hospitals generally....avoid going at all costs......I'm pretty sure that'll be my downfall one day

[stevewool]

i too am not keen on hospitals too, i am ok if i have a set time and they keep to it but there is no chance of that, now on the other hand if i was not the patient, i am the best person to be with, laugh a minute,sort of thing,

[stevewool]

Phil health paid around 1/3rd of the bill..
We are looking at local health insurance and I will post any findings of such once we inquire..

Thanks Fred, will look forward to your report

[dougie]

so where are you now then dougie, still in hospital, or somewhere else, and have you a final account of the cost that will have to be paid ,

i'm still in hospital, almost 11 weeks now, just waiting for the British Embassy to arrange flights home now, the Hospital bill is around 4,500 pounds, and the Embassy will loan me for the flights, not got a price yet, but need flights with oxygen supply

[Michael Parnham]

Whatever happened Fred, pleased everything is ok now and hopefully back to normal!

[fred]

Whatever happened Fred, pleased everything is ok now and hopefully back to normal!

Long story Michael!!
Mrs developed a swollen right leg below the knee..Went to doctor and they checked her BP..150/100!
The doc gave her a BP pill and it lowered..Said the leg was probably staph infection.. Didnt sound right to me as there was no wound. She had to fast for 10 hours before blood test to test for cholesterol etc and thats when the problem started!!
An hour later at home she passed out whilst standing up and of course collapsed.. The kids all thought she was a gonna until I managed to wake her up after about 20 secs through shouting at her directly into her ear!!lol.. Bloody stressful,let me tell you!
Straight to hospital where her BP had dropped to 90/70...
Cut long story short,she had an ECG and various other tests including a CT scan on her leg which the surgeon said indicated a swollen calf due to muscle tear or ligament injury..It pretty much ruled out DVT or bacterial infection as no mass or tumor seen.
3 nights 4 days in hospital on drip and anti antibiotics and swelling now gone down and BP stable again..
As I said..The hospital here was excellent but the only real problem is that Tagbilaran has no MRI scan which gives a far more accurate image for diagnosis..
Any doubts about the image and then its a trip to Cebu..
Whole expenditure was 25K which for me was bloody good value..

[raynaputi]

Hoping there's nothing more serious for your wife, Fred. Get well soon to her.

[gWaPito]

DEar me Fred, that was a lot of fuss and worry for a straight forward muscle/ligament injury As others have said, I hope she has a speedy recovery

[fred]

Rayna..Thanks!
Gwaps.. When it comes to swollen limbs and varying BP there are many things/disorders to eliminate ASAP in order to get the correct treatment.

[gWaPito]

Rayna..Thanks!
Gwaps.. When it comes to swollen limbs and varying BP there are many things/disorders to eliminate ASAP in order to get the correct treatment.

Yes of course..I forgot about the initial 150/100!!

[Michael Parnham]

Wow Fred, very worrying time and I really do understand how you would be feeling and I'm pleased to see that everything is now being dealt with and hopefully under control. Please keep us updated on the progress of your good lady Fred and by the way, p25,000 a bargain under the circumstances, I'm sure she will be back to normal soon and all the best to both of you!

[fred]

Wow Fred, very worrying time and I really do understand how you would be feeling and I'm pleased to see that everything is now being dealt with and hopefully under control. Please keep us updated on the progress of your good lady Fred and by the way, p25,000 a bargain under the circumstances, I'm sure she will be back to normal soon and all the best to both of you!

Thanks Micheal for the nice words.. Appreciated..
Just because the swelling has gone ,she wants to dance around and carry on as normal!!
Her leg is sore again and I have explained for the 100th time that she needs to rest the leg for a good month!
Will she listen? Probably not.
Nightmare!!
Women?????
Who would ave em?

[dougie]

hi Steve,
week 12 now,and i'm still in hospital, the airline has now decided i need an escort to travel with me, the embassy has decided it is too costly and wont pay it, now the hospital have decided the bill has risen to the extent that they want a larger deposit paid, things dont look good right now, i have n idea whats going to happen