Emigrating to Wales with cardiovascul... - British Heart Fou...

British Heart Foundation

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Emigrating to Wales with cardiovascular disease

40 Replies

Presently living in Cape Town South Africa , British Citizen . Wanting to move to Wales / Swansea area to be near my daughter. I had heart attack and quadruple bypass age 49 , now 61 . I’ve had 2 heart attack since then with last one 18 months resulting in having a stent. Here I have private medical aid plus access to top cardiologists , hospitals etc. My concern is moving to Wales what can I expect from NHS & will I be able to get private medical insurance. Thank

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40 Replies
Prada47 profile image
Prada47

Difficult to say about NHS Wales a lot depends on the Area you are considering !!

With regards to Private Health Insurance we have a pretty decent system with Private Hospitals etc.

Health Insurance tends to be pretty International have you explored a continuation of your current Insurance to the UK ???

Good Luck with your move nice to see your age and health is not preventing you making what looks like a very sensible decision.

Regards

in reply to Prada47

problem is my condition no one I’ll insure in UK

in reply to

Well with that comment - surely you have answered your own question? As for NHS Wales perhaps if you look on NHS Wales web site, that may give you an insight into the care system - however it must be said that I PERSONALLY BELIEVE that NHS Wales has a slight problem with funding and limps on from one crisis to another and is directly affected by politics in the region. I also see no reason why you should not be able to contact the coronary care unit closest to where you want to live and ask them the question directly, advising you are returning to the UK on a permanent basis and not as an NHS tourist

in reply to

We have tried but not successful .

in reply to

Well why not ask someone from Heart Matters is you have the best number to contact the relevant specialist - NHS directory enquiries are renowned for being complicated

in reply to

Thanks so much for that info , I’ve never heard of them

Gowers profile image
Gowers

I am not sure but think ?? There is only one private hospital in Swansea where some nhs consultants do consultations.

I know the nhs Morriston hospital in Swansea has a very good cardiac dept as i know of 2 people who had major surgery here & good care afterwards.

Maybe your daughters gp/surgery could advise on what is available private & NHS.

in reply to Gowers

Thanks , my wife is going over in July & hopefully can find out exactly . I dare not emigrate if not

Gowers profile image
Gowers in reply to

Ah right. I take it your private health insurance will not be valid in the uk?

in reply to Gowers

Vitality in UK is run differently to Discovery here plus all UK Private Health Insurance companies will not cover any existing health problems . NHS or nothing for me so very worrying as we really want to be with our only child . Also want to get out of South Africa.

Gowers profile image
Gowers in reply to

Oh dear - I feel for you.

Don't know where in Swansea you would be thinking of living but, nearly 2 years ago a friends husband was seriously ill with multiple heart problems/valve failure. They moved from south of England to be nearer their children in Swansea & they were advised of the excellent cardio care in Morriston hospital

In fact, at the time they had been told no one would or could do anything more because the scarring around heart made it almost impossible.

But, surgeon at Morriston felt confident & promised to do his best and a week later he was home and has already this year done two trips abroad.

hopefully your wife can get the necessary reassurance + information you need on her next visit

Let us know how you get on

in reply to Gowers

Excellent , yes I’ve been reading good things about the hospital . We would be looking at living in Swansea

Gowers profile image
Gowers in reply to

No place like it though I moved away long while ago I still have family there so live to visit.

in reply to Gowers

Family still in South Africa?<

in reply to Gowers

Visited Swansea twice last year ( daughter st Swansea Uni) love the area and the Welsh are wonderful & friendly. It’s unpredictable future and the stress of daily very serious crime here as well as our only child living that makes us want to move there. The other problem we have is finding a house to rent in Swansea area that allows a dog !

Gowers profile image
Gowers in reply to

In the 70's Swansea was known as "the graveyard of all ambition" because when companies had folk relocating to the area for work they found most didn't want promotion because they loved the area & its many beaches so much!

(Hope you manage to find a rental property that accepts dogs)

in reply to Gowers

That’s incredible

Zena166 profile image
Zena166

Hi Strandloper. What about considering living in Bristol in England? It’s about 80 miles away and has a very good dedicated Cardiac hospital link is here uhbristol.nhs.uk/patients-a...

The distance between Swansea and Bristol is about 80 miles across the Severn bridge and they recently scrapped tolls!

Anyway it’s just a thought as a different option. Best wishes Zena

Thanks , appreciate that

SpiritoftheFloyd profile image
SpiritoftheFloyd

Hello Strandloper

I think the issue of access to NHS services revolves around residency status.

I don't know whether you've read the papers on the NHS site,i know it relates to England, but I'm finding it difficult to find anything much on services in Wales

nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/nhs-se...

I have a British passport & im still a citizen so I have access to NHS

SpiritoftheFloyd profile image
SpiritoftheFloyd in reply to

Sorry I misread your original post

in reply to SpiritoftheFloyd

Appreciate your replies

afansmum1 profile image
afansmum1

Hello. I can recommend Morriston hospital Swansea too. I have had a stent put in there, and an ICD last October. Good consultants and nursing staff.

in reply to afansmum1

Thank you for reply , we will be living no more than 20 km from Morriston Hospital so great to know . My main concern is ongoing outpatient care and waiting times etc experienced with NHS

Gowers profile image
Gowers in reply to afansmum1

Yes, I have family & friends who have had excellent care there.

NorthantsSteve profile image
NorthantsSteve

I just wanted to add that I know the NHS gets a lot of bad press (and I can’t speak for the Swansea area or for Wales) but my experience has been brilliant. Superb and timely treatment by highly qualified consultants and really kind and expert support staff. And I went to a hospital trust that was previously seen as struggling. I think it’s in the nature of bad experiences that they get shared more widely than the good ones.

Thanks so much for your reply I really appreciate everyone’s input

Billiewizz profile image
Billiewizz

I live in Wales and moved here from Kent last September. Have had great care. I have Dilated Cardiomyopathy and have a CRTD fitted. Am seen in local hospital in Abergavenny for HF and University Hospital Cardiff, under a Professor Yousef for CRTD , he and his Team are excellent. I don’t think you will need private care once you have passed habitual residency test, after 6 months.

in reply to Billiewizz

Thanks , as far as I know I have immediate NHS care as I am a British Passport Holder & British Citizen .

Billiewizz profile image
Billiewizz

google.com/search?q=habitua... Have a look at this link or look at turn to us a great organisation that will give you chapter and verse re habitual residency test.

Thanks , that’s really great of you. Mike

That's all I can say is that I am Welsh and have had nothing but excellent care from Doctor's, Hospitals, Ambulance Service and everyone else that are connected. Why not go onto the NHS Wales Direct Website or try Citizen's Advice. I'm sure they can answer some of your concerns. Cymru Am Byth 😀

Prada47 profile image
Prada47 in reply to

Cymru am Byth even lol

From someone who learnt to spell Ynysybwl from an early age

in reply to Prada47

Well you should be proud of your Welsh heritage as I have never felt so at home as I have when I’ve visited Wales .

in reply to

That's brilliant and yes we are a very Proud Nation. I really hope you can come here. By the way, apologies, I didn't get round to reading all the comments 😊

I’ve tried but difficult to get exact info . Yes we fell in love with Wales & wonderful friendly Welsh .

in reply to

😊😊😊😊

Our only childv( daughter ) is studying at Swansea University , extremely happy . Jarren is also very involved with Discovery a Charity , youth etcetc. Police duty at weekend

Finally making the move in 3 weeks , bought a house in Mumbles , Swansea

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