CASE 1: Mrs. J.M. of Teignmouth, Devon

CASE 2: Mrs. PW of Dorset
CASE 3: Ms. KC of Dublin
CASE 4: Mrs. LD of Swansea
CASE 5: Mr. S Resident Overseas

What the Press has to say

The Not Here Service (NHS)	400 Kb
The BBC Article	93 kb

The following testimonials are extracts from case histories that actually took place - names and addresses have been withheld but referrals and contact information are available on request.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CASE 1 Name: Mrs. J.M. of Teignmouth, Devon Age: 70 years Treatment: Surgery: Knee replacement.

Background:
Had already waited some time for diagnosis when she was told she would have a 10 month wait for NHS surgery. At this stage she was unable to go out walking.

Result:
Just two months after her operation in Belgium, she was able to go out walking with her family over Christmas 2003.

Comments:
Mrs. M said: “It took all our savings, but I couldn’t have afforded to have had it done privately in this country. ”

Mrs. M is very pleased with the treatment she had. Her husband went with her and stayed in guest accommodation in the hospital in West Flanders where the surgery was carried out. “Everything went so smoothly,” she said. “We were picked up by car at the airport and driven to the hospital. The doctors, nurses and physiotherapist were lovely and the hospital was very clean. There was no language problem as people spoke English with us. ”

Mrs. M couldn’t get physiotherapy immediately on her return but continued with the exercises the physiotherapist in Belgium had taught her. The result was that, when she did see a Devon physiotherapist she only needed three sessions. And when she showed the consultant in Torquay her X-rays “he was most impressed”.

Direct Healthcare International helps some 200 UK patients a year, who would otherwise have long waits for all manner of surgery, get top quality medical care quickly and effectively in Belgium, France & Germany.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CASE 2 Name: Mrs. PW of Dorset Age: 70 years Treatment: Surgery: Hip replacement

Background:
Mrs. W first went to her local hospital in July 2002 for X-rays. A three-week wait and her doctor’s absence on holiday meant it was late September before she saw a consultant at another hospital who told her she was too young for a replacement and recommended a hip block injection. Not satisfied, she returned on November 28 and was booked for surgery in Dorset on January 20. But then, it seems, the surgeon went sick.

Her NHS surgery was postponed at the beginning of January 2003, and so she got on the Internet and found alternative facilities in Belgium through Direct Healthcare International Limited.

Result:
Following a number of questions and concerns all answered to her satisfaction, she booked with the company in January and flew out to Belgium with her husband. The next day she met the consultant and was operated the following day.

Mrs. W said: “I had been suffering from restricted movement and walking was limited due to a damaged right hip. I have had no pain since the operation and now, three weeks later, I go out each day and walk with one crutch for about 20 minutes. Friends who’ve had the operation done in the UK can’t believe the progress I’m making!”

Comments:
Mr. W says: “Booking through Direct Healthcare International Limited was one of the best decisions of our life”

While his wife was in the Belgian hospital, Mr. W was able to stay in the modern relatives accomodation unit.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CASE 3 Name: Ms. KC of Dublin Age: 42 years Occupation: Clinitian Treatment: MRI and Consultation

Background:
Hit by a JCB while driving on October 1, 2003. “Irish surgeon wasn’t interested in my pain. ” She tried to treat pain by acupuncture as she would whiplash patients but it wasn’t getting better. A normally healthy person but spasms were affecting her work.

Result:
MRI done in Belgium. Doctors have prescribed magnesium. No operation needed.

Comments:
Ms. KC said: “The level of cleanliness in the hospital astounded me. Because they suspected an infection of the MRI unit from the previous patient I had to wait while they disinfected the whole unit. The level of care I received was fantastic. I did not experience such care in Ireland where the medical staff discounted my pain. The Direct Healthcare International Limited patient liaison officer took care of me the whole day. ”

Ms. KC found Direct Healthcare International Limited on the Internet by typing in MRI into Google. On calling the office she said: “I got more information out of Direct Healthcare staff in 10 minutes than I got out of the Irish medical service in two months. ”

Ms. KC has since returned to Direct Healthcare International Limited for further scans and treatment.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CASE 4 Name: Mrs. LD of Swansea Age: 85 years Occupation: Radio Performer Treatment: Knee Replacement

Background:
Mrs LD of Swansea went to Belgium for a total knee replacement. During the recovery period in the state of the art intensive care facility the heart monitor showed a slight trace the cardiologist wasn’t completely satisfied with.

Result:
Mrs LD was immediately transferred to our specialist heart hospital 15 minutes away. Her heart was thoroughly checked out and it was found that she had suffered a mild heart attach. The hospital informed DHI directly and once Mrs LD was stabilised she was transferred back to the orthopaedic facility.
Her son in the UK was contacted and flown out at DHI’s expense. Mrs LD was given an extra weeks stay so that she may fully recover and complete her physiotherapy coarse before her and her son were flown back to the UK at DHI’s expense. No additional fees were charged to the patient.

Comments:
The Cardiologist said: “Mrs LD was due to have the heart attach sooner or later. Fortunately she chose to have it in our intensive care facility, which has to be about the best place for this to happen. The trace was so slight and the attach so mild, many hospitals may not even have detected it. ” “There was no damage to the heart and the patient has been treated with drugs to normalise her heart stability. ”

Mrs LD said: “I cannot thank the wonderful hospital and staff enough for my excellent treatment. I am happy to recommend them to anyone and also would like to acknowledge the help and support of the DHI team who’s liaison officers frequent visits to my bedside and to support and see my son were extremely supporting and welcome”

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CASE 5 Name: Mr. S Resident Overseas Age: 45 years Occupation: Engineer Treatment: Knee Arthroscopy

Background:
Mr S returned to his home following a knee arthroscopy. After a few weeks he started to suffer from reoccurring fever and pains regularly every evening. The DHI team swung into action. Local investigations revealed nothing and the fevers were a complete mystery so at DHI’s expense he was returned to Belgium where the hospital investigated. The state of the art laboratories in the hospital found nothing and the fevers continued.

Result:
Acting on a hunch the DHI team asked the patient if he had had malaria previously. The hospital ran an investigation for rare strains of malaria and it turned out that the patient had previously had malaria in the forces some years earlier. His recent surgery had been he catalyst that had caused a reoccurrence. The patient was treated and after recovery flown home. There was no cost to the patient for the hospital treatment.

Comments:
The patient said: “I was concerned at first I thought I had picked up some kind of infection as a result of the surgery. However the hospital is so clean I found this hard to imagine. What wonderful service I got they were so quick to react and very thorough with their investigations, I would be very happy to return and use Direct Healthcare’s services again”

Meet the Surgeon & Visit the Hospital

For Patients & Relative's Accommodation

Why have Surgery in Belgium?

We Can Help you Plan Your Travel See Our Travel Page for details

How do I Book Hip Replacement Surgery?