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Fit to Fly Note

4 replies

Rockhopper81 · 21/08/2018 15:07

I think this is the correct forum to put this in?

I am on holiday in Mallorca at the moment - last Wednesday evening I slipped around the pool (private villa, extended family holiday, so 13 of us here) and hurt my ankle. There are 2 paramedics in our group, who got me into a chair, assessed me and confirmed it needed an x-ray to rule out a fracture (I couldn’t move my ankle at all, let alone weight bear - instant swelling on both sides of the joint and instant bruising).

We contact my travel insurance company, who were as much use as a chocolate tea pot, and they suggested I go in a taxi to the local clinic - when it was pointed out I couldn’t get into a taxi, as well as needing an x-ray, they conceded I should go to the hospital by ambulance, but only the public one that would treat me under my EHIC card (they wouldn’t pay for treatment).

To cut an even longer story short, I eventually got to the hospital and it isn’t broken, but the ligaments and tendons are strained. It’s very heavily strapped at the moment, I’m having to use crutches as I can’t weight bear, and I’m basically sitting with my leg up constantly.

The insurance company asked for ‘copies of my medical reports’, of which there was just a discharge summary from the hospital (I only speak a little Spanish, but google translate and some common sense helped to translate it all).

They contacted me today to say their ‘medical personnel’ have determined I am fine to proceed with my planned flight on Saturday and they have issued a ‘fit to fly’ note for me. They haven’t seen me to assess me, it’s all based on the discharge summary!

I have to see the doctor on Thursday to have it reassessed and see what I need in terms of bandaging/support and help with the journey home. I was told to get a fit to fly note then and contact them, but they seem to have made up their mind already?

I think I will be fit to fly, but might need extra leg room depending on the bandaging and how much movement I have - they have categorically stated I don’t need extra leg room and just need wheelchair assistance at the airport, which they have told me to arrange with my airline! I already have, but they are literally doing nothing for me.

They even said that, if I have a cast, remember to ask for it to be split for expansion - there’s no appreciation on the situation at all! They have said to call again on Thursday with any furher ‘medical reports’, but I am paranoid they are going to expect me to travel home in immense pain because they won’t pay out for anything!

Can they issue a fit to fly note without seeming me, since I have a doctors appointment on Thursday?

If you got to the end, you deserve a medal and thank you! Smile

OP posts:
BestIsWest · 21/08/2018 22:00

Surely you need to keep it elevated, therefore need to sit across a row of seats. I wouldn’t accept that you are fit to fly in a normal seat. Hopefully the doctor you see will agree.

I sympathise having also done something similar on holiday and had a nightmare with my travel insurance who were absolutely useless too. I did eventually get them to provide an ambulance to the airport and they arranged extra seats but it took many phone calls.

They don’t begin with A do they?

Rockhopper81 · 22/08/2018 10:50

I worked out that, with the transfer to the airport (45mins in a minibus - haven’t quite worked out how I’m going to get in it yet), plus airport and travelling time, I’d have my leg down for about 6 hours by the time I got home. The longest I’ve had it down at the moment is 30 mins.

I shall see what the doctor says tomorrow, but I shall be pushing for some sort of accommodation. My booked flight is full - we’ve already contacted them about it - so they would have to make alternate arrangements for a flight, and I get the impression they are loath to do anything that costs at all.

I will still ask the doctor tomorrow about the fit to fly note - surely it would take precedent over the one they’ve decided to issue?

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BestIsWest · 26/08/2018 10:47

Hope you got it sorted

Rockhopper81 · 26/08/2018 12:25

It was a joke, to be honest - I had to fly home in a regular seat (no extra leg room), the ambulift loaded at the front of the ‘plane and my row was row 29 (of 31), so I had to make my way down the length of the ‘plane (and back again to disembark). We didn’t know any of this when we booked the assistance, as we could’ve asked to change rows if we had. Assistance at Palma airport were, well frankly they were total crap, and they cocked up my assisted boarding so I was almost the last person to board - I had to kind of hobble on my crutches (even though I’m not actually supposed to be weight bearing on the ankle at the moment) as the ‘plane was almost full and then peoples arms/elbows jut into the aisle.

Needless to say I’ve been in a ridiculous amount of pain yesterday and today.

Yes, I’m bitter and twisted about it, because it was so much more difficult than it needed to be. Sorry to moan - it’s been a hard weekend so far. Sad

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