rehabilation

[marionann]

I live in France (Normandy) and for 3 years have had COPD,i have very little advice from my doctor,and rehabilation has never been mentioned would it be possiable to come to England for treatment ?

[HuwieHex]

I think that this is a fairly complicated question!

What is your Nationality? If you are a UK Citizen with an NHS number then the answer is almost certainly "yes". If you are a EU/EAA (but not UK) Citizen who intends to permanently reside in the UK then the answer is probably "yes", but possibly only to 2019 when the UK exits the EU.

But if it is your wish just to visit the UK solely for treatment then I don't think that your EHIC would cover that. The NHS website says "...Your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) does not cover going abroad for medical treatment. The EHIC is for emergency treatment that becomes necessary while you're abroad." But you really should get a definitive answer from your local office of Caisse Primaire d’Assurance Maladie.

Regardless of all of that, I really think that you should discuss this in detail with your Doctor in France and I am sure that advice and rehabilitation should be available.

[marionann in reply to HuwieHex]

thank you,and yes I do have aNHS number and I am retired, having worked and lived in france for 27 years south and north,I do keep asking, but I must be asking the wrong persons.I also have a stent in my heart,(heart atack) 2 stents in my legs.only one normal kidney.so you can see why I am asking.I am 74 so time is running out,thank you again,I Will keep trying.

[Hidden]

Lille is the best hospital for pulmonology closest to you...I would go there if I were you. I went to Lyons they have the bedt consultant for lymphangioleiomyomatosis there which is what I have they were tops.

Take good care xx

[marionann in reply to Hidden]

Thank you I wounder what my Doctor will say to sending me to Lille.I will let you know.

[Hidden in reply to marionann]

You have sécurité sociale you can go to any hospital you wish. I found Lyons on the internet and phoned in mind you it took 5 months to see the Professor but it was worth the wait.

[soulsaver]

Yes, for sure if you go private.

bupacromwellhospital.com/se...

But you must be able to at least go private for it in France?

[Hidden in reply to soulsaver]

No it’s a public hospital you use your european health card

[peege]

Can I suggest you order a DVD from Amazon. I ordered one whilst in France & it was brilliant for lung rehabilitation and building strength/stamina for future lung health. Just put 'exercise DVD for lung health in their search bar. If you get one, look through it first to ensure you pick the exercises for you. Lots can be done from sitting or using the back of a chair for support.

Good luck.

[marionann in reply to peege]

that sounds great, the more I read the more I am not the only one here in France, who has problems with the so called great French medical system.

[peege in reply to marionann]

Ah, I only stayed in the south for 6 months & got DVD to help keep fit..... I've only heard excellent things about French healthcare - far far superior to here. My French daughter in law spent 10 days in a clinic after an easy straight forward birth. My youngest daughter was sent home from a caesarian after 24 hour & received not one visit from a midwife or health visitor. Perhaps things are different in different regions. P

[marionann in reply to peege]

yes there are, when in the south excellant. they saved my live I was in a coma for 3 weeks,after my heart stopped then the care at home was great.we were there for 23 years, then we moved to normandy,5 years ago.since then I've been in 9 hospitals stays and could write a book of comedy.starting with oxygen taking away, to unable to take blood so they send me home ,so my local nurse can do the job.things have got so bad even my own GP has complained, my last ambulance company should have sent me to a hospital for my kidneys.she had arranged for a doctor to be there,waiting for me,this is at 8 in the evening no this SMU decided to send me to a hospital they thought w as better,they were very good,gave me morphine and sent me home at 1 in the morning.I am now seeing the doctor at the right hospital, what a wast of time and money if I was in england I could sue the ambulance company. the plus side I do have aroom of my own.PS why the hospital sent me home is because they had no idear about kidneys at least they were honest.

[K-Kilcoyne in reply to marionann]

I've read that French researchers are really moving forward with the problems of COPD,I'm really quite surprised that there are so few facilities do deal with it.Also read that France has huge amount of sufferers,maybe that's the hold up getting treatment.I hope you get the treatment you should.

Take care.

[marionann]

thanks,