Hospitals in Crete

[nurseynursery]

Does anyone have much experience of this? My partner is in Heraklion hospital after a bad fall, broken ribs etc The care really doesn't seem great. We don't speak greek and there isn't any staff anywhere. It's just the scariest time. Is there an alternative? Somewhere private? If anyone has any experience or advise I'd be so grateful.

I don’t think your insurance will cover you to stay out there with the kids OP, you might want to check that.

My daughter ended up in state hospital in Crete due to vomiting and pain similar to her kidney stone symptoms so insurers wanted us to get to hospital ASAP. They could not locate private near where we were so we ended up in state. It was fine - as it was she had to have a drip for gastroenteritis. It was a bit uncomfortable for hubby who had to sleep on a concrete floor. Not so much different from NHS in terms of care.

Don’t worry about school and work, these things happen and they will understand. Really push the insurance company to get a move on and provide help. They will have to arrange payment of all bills including accommodation until you can all get home or a medical evacuation. Check your policy carefully.

He can't fly for 2-3 weeks so I don't know how the bloody hell I navigate that with kids and school and work.

ask this of the travel insurance. if you do repatriate (check t&c) the knsurance will arrange for all that.
if they do not cover repatriation you might need to travel home alone with dc whilstdh might need to stay in a hotel after hospital discharge until he is fit to fly.
again, talk to the insurance about this.

I hope you get answers soon.

and to add, private medical re-patriation is expensive.
we paid around 10k about 10 years ago to fly home a family member with a broken leg.
the alternative would have been to stay until fit for flight which would have been a similar time frame as predicted for your dh.

Insurance company may give access to a local interpreter and specific medical repatriation would include a nurse to accompany him unless he is able to walk and able to use a regular charter flight independently. You may find cover for you and dc to stay on and reschedule flights is limited.

Do you have anyone in the UK that can fly out to get the kids, take them home and stay with them like a grand parent or aunty or such. Then you can just focus on getting your DH the right care/translators/repatriated

Also dont forget about google translate. It will do voice based translating too, so he doesnt need to type. It just speaks out the translation in greek. The doctors can then use it in reverse to tell you stuff

Talk to the traVel insursnce company
Thats what you paid insurance for
They have accees to translators

How old are dc?

I think that my DH would say not to visit if it meant leaving the kids with total strangers.

Medical evacuation is about 30k now and they won't do that unless it's an absolute emergency. Certainly not for broken bones and stitches.

I hope you get some real life help soon

Your insurance company may be able to help, but don't move him to a private hospital unless you are sure they will cover it or you can absorb the cost comfortably yourself.

I know the hospital in Heraklion - he's in Venizeleio, yes? The slight chaos is normal. You have to provide a lot of the care for your husband yourself, and people who can't do it themselves often hire private nurses - you might want to ask your insurance company to sort a private nurse for you. Similarly, you will need to provide food. It's not hard - there are equivalents of deliveroo etc. The Grigoris across the road is a bit rubbish, but there are millions of restaurants all along the Knossos Road. This place is great and does delivery - https://kritikosfournosgeuseis.gr/

I know there is more to it right now than cafes, but I've been exactly where you are now in Heraklion with an incapacitated husband and wish I had better understood local food delivery options for a start!

How small are your kids? You could hire a babysitter in Heraklion if they are under 5 and can't wait at the door of the ward while you drop stuff in to your husband.

Hope you husband is getting better.

Can you spell out to the insurance company the situation with you having to look after your children and your husband? Doubt they will help with childcare but they might hire a private nurse for him?

You are doing your best under difficult circumstances so go easy on yourself and make sure you take time to eat and get some rest yourself too.

Have you tried using the Google translate app? You can type things and they read them and vice versa.

Plus you can scan writing and it will translate it.

Just an update. He was discharged, saw a private doctor at hotel and was admitted to a different hospital. Punctured lung and more broken ribs have been discovered. He's at least 3 weeks away from flying. I'm going home as planned with kids and hopefully returning sometime once I get them sorted. Very limited family and it is a big ask from friends. Looked into a nanny to share their care a bit but really don't want them with a stranger for so long. Thanks for all your advice.

Thanks for updating. Fractured ribs are terribly painful but at least you are now happy with his care. You poor things, rotten luck to have this to deal with after looking forward to a holiday. I hope people help you and he gets home soon x

Maybe a friend or relative could fly to come back with him?
Easier to arrange for him than nanny for kids ?