A WEST Donegal man has spoken of how he flew to Spain for hip replacement surgery using a little-known EU law.
Former Defence Forces soldier Seamus McBride, from Annagry, described the whole experience as “first class” and said more people from Donegal should use the scheme.
Under the EU Cross Border Health Directive, people across the EU – including Ireland – have had the right to travel for healthcare to other EU countries.
In Ireland, the HSE reimburses most or all of the costs. The directive no longer applies to Northern Ireland.
Seamus, now 62, served for 28 years including a tour to Lebanon in 1982. He quit the Defence Forces in 2009 when the Government closed his camp at Rockhill outside Letterkenny.
An active man, he continues to work at various jobs, including as a coal merchant, landscape gardener and small ‘hobby’ farmer with an interest in Highland cattle.
But his years of service and post-service work took its toll.
“I absolutely loved Rockhill and when it closed, I was devastated and decided it was time for me to go. I looked after all the grounds when I was stationed there,” says father-of-four Seamus.
“There was great comradery about it all. I was always keeping busy. After I left I kept on keeping busy and that’s the way I am.
“About two and a half years ago I noticed when I was walking on uneven ground I would be in a lot of pain. I was in agony, in fact anything strenuous led to agony.
“I’ve been involved in physical work all my life and it was obviously taking its toll.”
Seamus went for x-rays and was told that his hip socket was worn and he was put on a waiting list for a hip replacement.
But a chance meeting with a friend at a wake led him to explore going to Spain instead.
“I rang the organisation Healthcare Abroad. I had no fears about it at all, especially after speaking to my friend who’d already been over to Spain and had an operation,” said Seamus.
“I had never heard of the EU Cross Border Directive. I had checked the North and I was getting quotes of 17,000 sterling for a hip in the North – around €19,500. In Spain it’s €11,500 and the HSE reimburses all of that.
“I made the call to Healthcare Abroad and I was out in Denia, north of Alicante, four or five weeks’ later. The care I received was first class. Everything was brilliant.
“My surgeon Dr Henkel at the HCB Hospital in Denia explained everything he was going to do, put you at ease.
“The brilliant thing about Denia was being there for a second week and getting physio twice every day. The physio team were phenomenal.”
Seamus flew into Alicante airport and was provided with free shuttle bus transfers to his hotel in Denia and between the hotel and hospital for all his appointments.
The Annagry man added: “The care I received was exceptional. I can’t thank everyone in Denia enough – the hospital staff, the Healthcare Abroad staff and drivers, and the staff at the Daniya Denia Hotel.
“I just want other people in Donegal to know they have this right under EU law and under Irish law. You don’t even have to be on a waiting list. You must pay for your flights and your hotel – the HSE won’t pay for that. You must pay for your surgery too, but the HSE does reimburse all the costs for a hip replacement about 16 weeks after you get home, including for all the consultations and the physio.”
The Healthcare Abroad agency sources doctors and consultants at 83 different private hospitals in the EU, mainly in Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands and links them with Irish patients requiring healthcare.
They also work with credit unions so that healthcare is paid directly to hospitals and the HSE directly reimburses the credit union.
A spokesperson said: “We were delighted to be able to help Seamus who is making an exceptional recovery after his surgery. We want to wish him and his family all the best for the future.”
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