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Living overseas

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Crossing Schengen borders

14 replies

ViveLEntenteCordiale · 17/03/2020 01:16

Schengen borders have been closed today for a month at least and probably more. The only people allowed to cross are workers who live in one country and work in another. Goods are still allowed. For me this means no medical treatment during that time, because the border is between me and my treatment providers. I won't be the only one in this position, and I pay through the nose for my health insurance. I have a number of conditions and don't know how I'll cope without the wonderful team of physiotherapist, osteopath, doctors and pain clinic who keep me going day to day. I just about have enough medication (and may be able to get more by asking a friend to pick it up and throw it over a quiet border), but without treatment I'll be confined to bed (as well as my house) in a week. Getting a doctor here would take weeks, then I'd need a referral, but even then the nearest hospital offering the services I need is over an hour away, and I can't drive for more than half an hour. Cross-border families are a big part of my area and I feel we've all just been abandoned, so it's not only about me. I've spent the evening reading articles in my second language trying to find one sentence about what we should do but nothing. I'm at a loss and feel like giving up, because let's face it, no one cares.

OP posts:
florababy84 · 17/03/2020 01:39

This is really terrible. For the medication, could the clinic/hospital courier it to you?

sashh · 17/03/2020 01:46

That sounds shit. Is there someone official you can talk to? Surely they should make allowances for medical treatment? It's equally as important as work, probably more so.

ViveLEntenteCordiale · 17/03/2020 15:18

Thanks for the replies. Can't get through to pharmacy but they don't normally deliver abroad. Have tried calling local equivalent to council offices but they can only say that on the side we live we can go out for medical stuff, but they don't know what will happen at the border. When I finally got through to the hospital about todays appointment the secretary said it took her 5 hours to get across the border this morning Shock so I wouldn't be able to manage it even if I got permission. Hoping more info will become available in the next few days.

OP posts:
Nlds · 18/03/2020 06:05

Can you move?

FloconDeNeige · 18/03/2020 06:12

Are you on the Franco-Swiss border?? Or somewhere else?

FloconDeNeige · 18/03/2020 06:16

Also to say, there are no ‘quiet’ borders. I’m 5 mins from one in the mountains and it’s being fully controlled. Only frontaliers working in the listed occupations can cross.

Lunde · 18/03/2020 13:23

Which countries is it? - the articles that I read on bbc said that travel out of the Schengen to the UK and Switzerland is still allowed
www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-51918596

ViveLEntenteCordiale · 18/03/2020 21:09

Unfortunately moving isn't an option Grin

Yes FloconDeNeige the Franco-Swiss border. Are you nearby?

I called my GP's secretary and the Marie today and both said it's ok to go, using the French form and stating medical reasons. I can put the doctor's name and number on the form if the border people want to check up on me. I will be taking proof of address in case I need it on the way back. Appointment tomorrow is at lunchtime so hopefully the border (Chancy) won't be horrendous, if it is will turn back. My husband is allowed to drive me by filling in the form and stating he is aiding a vulnerable family member.

All my physio has been cancelled though.

It's crap that I still haven't found any official written info - there are lots of people in this area with insurance that only covers them in Switzerland, because there are so few specialists/hospital here.

I'm more afraid of pain than the virus.

Thanks again, will report back in case anyone else is affected.

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ViveLEntenteCordiale · 18/03/2020 21:13

To clarify, when I said a quiet border, I meant a closed one. Some have had concrete barriers put up to stop traffic. But they are just in the middle of country roads or on walking paths, so it would be possible to pass a package across between two people on foot.

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FloconDeNeige · 19/03/2020 06:24

@ViveLEntenteCordiale
Ah you’re in Geneva. I’m in Vaud; La Cure is my local border. Good news that you can use an attestation to cross.

Are there no physios you can use in Geneva in the meantime?

ViveLEntenteCordiale · 19/03/2020 10:21

Hi FloconDeNeige (not sure why your name came out strangely in my first reply Blush )

Thanks but I’m stuck on the other side of the border in France! Towards the Vaud side of Geneva though so not that far from you My physio is in Geneva. Am assuming they’ve closed the hospital facility as it’s big. I’ve already had it cancelled once as my usual guy had a ski accident in February. Then a wait to be fitted in with his colleague and now the colleague has cancelled! I’m pretty rural and the only cabinet near me has a long waiting list.

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FloconDeNeige · 19/03/2020 11:29

Oh you’re on the French side; sorry I thought you were on the Swiss side!

It’s a crap situation, I hope you manage to get through it without too much pain 🍞 (sorry, predictive text suggested this icon!!)

ViveLEntenteCordiale · 23/03/2020 00:59

@FloconDeNeige forgot to come back, sorry, but now laughing at the pain/pain🥖🍞

It went fine. No one in front of us at the border, and the guy read the forms and let us through. Came back through CERN and only a few cars in front of us.

Hospital was deserted! Really weird! Managed to get what I wanted from the doctor but all my future appointments are cancelled (physio/pain clinic). My hospital isn't even taking COVID-19 patients so I don't really know why. I suppose the staff deployed elsewhere The pain doctor called me back and increased my meds in the absence of any treatment. They are making me a bit dopey Grin

Next thing is hoping the border is still open when I need the next medication prescription. All but one or two closed now in the pays de Gex. Wont be great for medical staff - apparently 60% of HUG staff commute from France!

Thanks for being so supportive. My DH likes to snow-shoe at La Cure, and then go to the restaurant that's half in France and half in Switzerland. Closed now I'm sure!

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FloconDeNeige · 24/03/2020 13:27

Glad you’re sorted for now! I know the crossings by CERN well; used to work there myself. Yes, apparently loads of the staff in HUG (and even CHUV in Lausanne) are frontaliers... must still be fairly busy at the borders. DH just went to Aldi in Gland and said it was well-stocked and very quiet. Stay safe!

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