Advice for getting oxygen abroad with GHIC

[JennyH89]

Hi, my 1 year old son requires oxygen at night when he is sleeping but before he was prescribed it we had plans to attend a family wedding in Austria.

I can see online that the GHIC covers oxygen abroad but figuring out how I arrange this is baffling me. I have contacted the Austrian health authority to ask whi their authorised oxygen company is which is what the NHS website says I need to do. They have said that they cannot give any recommendations on oxygen providers. The GHIC contact number for queries is just an automated message then cuts off. I have messaged them on their Facebook page which is they way they can communicate with you but they have just sent the link to the NHS website that I have already seen.

Does anybody have any advice? A private company has quoted €709 but I cannot afford that.

it is only at night he needs it and we are travelling during the day so I just need a concentrator at the accommodation.

Any and all help appreciated 🙏

Thank you

[Lol1944]

if you are travelling by car maybe you could hire or buy one here.

[JennyH89 in reply to Lol1944]

We are flying but thank you for your comment x

[Younie]

From what i can see the GHIC does cover oxygen treatment, but not long term oxygen treatment and as this is every night for your little one it may be what they class it as. Speak to the specialists who have prescribed the oxygen. They should have details, or be able to prescribe to a company that will provide you what you need to take with you. It may be that you will require an extra case etc to travel, but airlineas allow this as medical luggage with no estra cost, just information on what the equipment is etc.

[PaulineHM]

Hello,

Organising 02 for use abroad is sometimes tricky to arrange. It really depends on the prescription really.

Can I suggest you speak to Pure 02. They are very helpful and a trusted source of information.

healthoxygen.com/?gad_sourc...

Wishing you and your son well.

Pauline

[JennyH89 in reply to PaulineHM]

I’ve messaged them thank you x

[PaulineHM in reply to JennyH89]

Hi, I hope you find them helpful.

I used to phone them and they were great.

Go well,

Pauline

[LissacFrance]

Hi, quick look on google came up with this site. lungenhochdruck.at/en/patie... the site is in English with a contact address. Hope you are successful in your search, and that you ave a good holiday. Chris.

[Patk1]

If u need extra baggage for med equipment,ring special assistance of the airline yr flying eith and they'll arrange that free of cost.do carry medications and prescriptions in hand luggage x

[IrishRosie in reply to Patk1]

Hi Jenny I feel your pain!

My daughter has Interstitial Lung Disease and has to use oxygen at night too (she is 18 yrs old now), in the past we had been able to get a loan of a portable oxygen concentrator (POC) through her Respiratory team in hospital but unfortunately the supplier pulled out of Northern Ireland during Covid. So last year when we went to Spain I had to pay about €400 for one week in Spain! Plus her travel insurance was about the same, Crazy! This year we are staying at home and have booked a holiday in Ireland, which we love (except for the weather! 😃). But I’m still looking for better options to go to Spain again. I feel it’s not fair on her she deserves a lovely warm holiday too without all the additional expense! Good luck with getting sorted 🤞

[JennyH89 in reply to IrishRosie]

I hope you you both have a lovely holiday and thank you for your advice x

[ParrotsOfPenzance]

Your oxygen provider in the UK should be able to advise you

[IrishRosie]

Sorry Jenny I meant to say I also have found it virtually impossible to get advice about how I can get Oxygen in Europe through the GHIC card, who do you contact?? We also have Irish passports so effectively EU citizens, but no luck. I’ll keep trying and let you know if I get anywhere. But try your baby’s Respiratory team for a possible loan of a POC, which will be great if needed on the flight, and for nighttime use in Austria.

[JennyH89 in reply to IrishRosie]

Thank you. It shouldn’t be this hard though should it. It’s unfair to those, through no fault of their own require oxygen. I feel like Ive reached out to everyone I possibly can and I’m still waiting on a few replies. If I find anything that I think is helpful I will pass it on to you x

[ParrotsOfPenzance in reply to IrishRosie]

I don't think you can through the ehic. I live in central Portugal and plan on visiting the Algarve for a week this summer. I am on prescription here for supplementary oxygen which I receive from Vitalaire. Even for holidaying here I have to hire a machine privately if I am not taking my own.

Vitalaire have quoted me €2,80+6% IVA per day and I have to for pay a minimum of one month.

I am waiting for a quote from oxygenworldwide.com/ who specialise in providing oxygen for people on vacation. They said if you have private med insurance you can claim help with the cost.

[Patk1 in reply to IrishRosie]

I thinks there's info on 02+ GHIC card on link I shared above

[JennyH89]

thank you for your replies everyone. I appreciate you taking the time to reply. I have messaged everyone I can think of including the Austrian embassy to see if they have any advice. It’s very overwhelming trying to sort something that shouldn’t be this difficult. I will let you all know if I lm successful in getting it sorted x

[Patk1]

I hope its ok to have copied this, fir u - some useful details. Hope it helps x

healthunlocked.com/asthmalu....

[JennyH89]

just wanted to update everyone that I have been lucky enough that my husbands family in Austria know someone who works in a health facility who is able to get us a concentrator for free whilst we are there.

My advice to those trying to get help as I was quite nearly there until we were told we could get it free is to contact the embassy of the country you are travelling to. I contacted the Austrian embassy in London who sent me a very helpful email with contacts for me but I never got to the point of contacting them.

thank you for all your help though x