The new Near East Hospital in North Cyprus

Jovial_John


Joined: 31/01/2009
Posts: 1024

Message Posted:
03/10/2010 14:03

I have just returned from a 10 day stay in this hospital and I thought my experience might be of general interest. I had a femoral bypass in 1 leg and a stent and 2 balloonings in the other.

Firstly the whole place is on a very grand scale and the rooms are immaculate and very well equipped (although installation of fridges is overdue). They are all single rooms with a HP touch screen computer which doubles as a TV (but no satellite stations as yet), individual air con./heating and private toilet/shower. Visiting is encouraged and any time until 10pm but you can have 1 overnight visitor for whom a put-you-up bed is provided. The rooms were cleaned thoroughly every day, tidied and bins emptied a further twice every day and beds changed every other day or more if necessary.

All the doctors/surgeons I encountered speak excellent English, the nurses less so but we managed OK. If there was a real problem of understanding they would go and find a translator (cont....)

Jovial_John


Joined: 31/01/2009
Posts: 1024

Message Posted:
03/10/2010 14:04

... be it doctor, visitor or another patient. When I arrived they made sure I understood which is the "call" button and they responded within a minute every time I used it. They took great care of me and often asked if I needed anything. If they saw any sign of pain they immediately tried to help and asked if I wanted painkillers. This was not the case in ICU however and I found the staff there to be far less caring than on the ward - but I have never been in an ICU before so I have nothing to compare against. In ICU, as in the ward, they were very efficient about the medical side but I was glad to be back among 'friends' when I was sent back upstairs. All the hospital systems seemed efficient - when they said that I must go for a test at 10am, a porter and a wheelchair would arrive at 9:50 and a nurse carrying my notes would accompany me to the necessary room where the prep nurse would be ready to deal with me. I never waited 1 minute anywhere in the hospital.

(cont...)

Jovial_John


Joined: 31/01/2009
Posts: 1024

Message Posted:
03/10/2010 14:05

.... The food I must be less than complimentary about - it was warm and on time but very Turkish and fairly tasteless. As a nice touch they brought some fresh fruit every day, grapes or plums or an apple or a nectarine. But they don't know about coffee and tea (and fruit tea at that rather than a Tetleys tea bag) was only for breakfast. But a daily thermos of coffee from home took care of that problem and when the fridges are installed and cold drinks are on hand then all will be fine.

As to the op itself then I cannot fault my surgeon either in thoroughness, patience or skill. He had endless tests done - xray, ultrasound, doppler, CT scan (they have the most modern equipment for everything) and endless discussions with myself and several colleagues until they fully understood the problem and how best to treat it. Every test result is recorded on CD and they bring it to your room, put it on your computer and explain everything.

(cont....)

Jovial_John


Joined: 31/01/2009
Posts: 1024

Message Posted:
03/10/2010 14:05

....You haven't seen anything until you have watched every blood vessel in your leg in fully rotatable, zoomable 3D. At first I was a bit cynical and thought that they were just piling on the cost with all the tests but not any more. And to prove it they sent me home 3 days after a major operation when my friends all protested that I should stay longer. The post-op doppler tests showed a fully restored blood flow and my surgeon said that I came with a problem but now it is gone - all I have is pain and they cannot cure that by keeping me in a bed.

stilluvithere



Joined: 03/12/2008
Posts: 765

Message Posted:
03/10/2010 14:34

so did all the tests take a 7 day stay as you say you spent 10 days in hospital and discharged 3 days after op.

Can you give us some idea what the cost of this is please.

I have been in the hospital on a tour and can only concur with what you say re ckeanliness and up to date machinery

Jovial_John


Joined: 31/01/2009
Posts: 1024

Message Posted:
03/10/2010 14:56

I went 11am Thursday to try to speak to someone. I saw the surgeon after 10 minutes and was admitted at 3pm Thursday. The first 4 days were spent on tests and generally improving the condition of my legs pre-op and then 1 more day improving the condition. Op was 9am Wednesday, other procedures were 11am Thursday. Returned to ward 8am Friday and discharged 2pm Saturday.

I haven't had final bill but on Friday was visited by nice lady to discuss payment. She said I could take up to 1 year but I didn't have a problem to pay cash so no further discussion. By then the bill was £4,100 but she couldn't be sure all charges were in yet. I will pay Friday when I go for final test and post total cost then.

Maz


Joined: 29/03/2009
Posts: 1924

Message Posted:
03/10/2010 22:03

Did they tell you in advance how much it could cost. Do they give you a scale of charges? Obviusly there is always the unexpected, but are there guidelines. And as for paying later, did that mean monthly payments or what? I am interested because although we have not had any medical problems, it would be good to know if we could afford to have treatment, go back to U.K or lay down and die.

Lilli



Joined: 21/07/2008
Posts: 13081

Message Posted:
03/10/2010 22:15

whatever the cost john will be restored to health, no price for that. thank you for the post its encouraging as my fear is becoming ill here. Get well soon love xxxxx

Lilli



Joined: 21/07/2008
Posts: 13081

Message Posted:
03/10/2010 22:19

Just read your post to Guido who now informs me that as he lectures at near east one day a week, we can get a discount. I dont want to take this offer up but nice to read your report and know its there in place xx

Krypton


Joined: 02/09/2010
Posts: 179

Message Posted:
03/10/2010 23:05

lectures on what lilli?

Lilli



Joined: 21/07/2008
Posts: 13081

Message Posted:
03/10/2010 23:07

Krypton Food Production and Management, why do you only come out at 11pm

Lilli



Joined: 21/07/2008
Posts: 13081

Message Posted:
03/10/2010 23:11

Please krypton dont turn this into a slanging match this is about John and his treatment, i only made the comparison re we can have a discount

stilluvithere



Joined: 03/12/2008
Posts: 765

Message Posted:
04/10/2010 10:03

In April I had an arthroscopy done on my knee with health insurance. This was in a small private hospital in Southampton. I consultation, 1 xray, 1 minor op under general, 4 hours recovery and a sandwich with 1 further consultation. Cost? £2800. It makes John's £4100 for his treatment seem a mere pittance

mamachina


Joined: 22/11/2008
Posts: 730

Message Posted:
04/10/2010 10:32

i agree - I had the same in a private one in Dorchester and it was a touch more than yours!! A surgeon here is now quoting £5,500 for a new knee as its gone completely now1 Wonder what NEU charge must try and find out. JJ do they have a web site or e mail address? Glad you a fit and alls well,.

Jovial_John


Joined: 31/01/2009
Posts: 1024

Message Posted:
04/10/2010 11:27

Message 7

Before I was admitted the surgeon got a finance officer to come to his office. They went through the likely options but he pointed out that without the tests he could not be specific about further tests or actual solutions. I left to get my things understanding it would be £6000 tops. Once they had completed the tests they asked me if I wanted to go over the finances before they operated but I said just to do it - they had already got me a lot better and I didn't want to have to start again.

However, I understand from an independent source that the price for all medical procedures is set by the state for the state hospitals and private hospitals cannot vary this although they can charge what they want for accomodation etc. - maybe somebody in the know can confirm or deny this.



I chose not to discuss payment terms - it is my personal preference to pay immediately and never to have debt. But I got the impression that they would be extremely flexible.

Jovial_John


Joined: 31/01/2009
Posts: 1024

Message Posted:
04/10/2010 11:47

Message 14

Sorry, I just turned up. It is well staffed, they are very welcoming and efficient and you will not wait long to discuss your concerns. I will be very keen to try their dental section next time I have a problem.

The only number I have is my surgeon's cell phone which he gave me on departure in case I had any concerns. But remember that this is a teaching hospital and an integral part of the university so probably the main NEU switchboard would be the place to start.

To get there, turn left at the first Lefkosia roundabout (towards Ercan/Famagusta), and then the 1st left turn (near the footbridge and before the 1st traffic lights). Turn left at the first roundabout and you are now on campus. Go straight through 2 more roundabouts and take the first exit at the 3rd roundabout. The hospital is the last building on the right - it has a circular entranceway and there is a lot of parking space. Patient admission (which acts as general enquiries) is on the left as you enter.

Living


Joined: 25/05/2010
Posts: 9

Message Posted:
04/10/2010 11:59

Dear John,



I would like to talk to you about your hospital stay. Would you mind emailing livingmagazine@yahoo.com?

Thank you

stellasstar1



Joined: 02/07/2008
Posts: 1519

Message Posted:
04/10/2010 15:26

I went to the hospital today and I am in total agreement of what a great place it is. I rang last week to make an appointment(this can be a bit tricky as they don't tell you to press 9 for English, but I did it anyway), and got an English speaking lady who was very helpful and made the appointment for today. From what I saw this morning, there don't seem to be a lot of English people using the hospital yet, but I would highly recommend it. I have been trying to find somewhere here that does nerve root block injections since last year, and no one did. Finally I have found somewhere that does, and I won't have to keep going back to England and spending a small fortune each time. I was looked after really well ths morning, and am going back next week for the injections, so will give an update after that. I wish I had had the directions before I went, as first I went into a heavy goods place, then the University, before I finally found the hospital.

Jovial_John


Joined: 31/01/2009
Posts: 1024

Message Posted:
04/10/2010 15:56

Message 17

Have emailed you as requested - title is "Cyprus44"



I have ascertained the phone no is 0392 444 0535 but, as Stellasstar1 says, "they don't tell you to press 9 for English".

Deniz1


Joined: 28/07/2009
Posts: 3829

Message Posted:
04/10/2010 16:49

Where is the hospital please?

Jovial_John


Joined: 31/01/2009
Posts: 1024

Message Posted:
04/10/2010 17:00

It is in Lefkosia. Near East University is huge - it comprises all the buildings you can see on your left as you approach the roundabout on the outskirts of the city. The nearest buildings are the Medical Faculty which includes the hospital. For directions see message 16

stellasstar1



Joined: 02/07/2008
Posts: 1519

Message Posted:
05/10/2010 15:44

I forgot to say that the consultation cost 70 lira while another well known hospital charged 100. For a consultation with a specialist in England I paid £200, so was very happy with the price.

Isabella


Joined: 02/10/2008
Posts: 199

Message Posted:
05/10/2010 22:44

Is this hospital close to the Life hospital and do both hospitals have the same facilities. I had a full medical at the Life hospital, which included a dental check, earlier in the year and was very pleased with the thoroughness of the checks carried out.

Jovial_John


Joined: 31/01/2009
Posts: 1024

Message Posted:
24/10/2010 13:18

It is with regret that I must retract some of what I said earlier about this hospital. I have been royally ripped off and you should all be warned. I stand by what I said about the medical staff, their quality and my gratitude to them. My argument is with the 'suits'.

It appears that the bill I was verbally given earlier of 9,000+ lira (and that I reported as £4,100) was in fact 9,000+ Sterling. When I went to pay 2 weeks ago the final bill was 23,416 lira (£10,500). This was for a single femoral bypass operation in one leg, and a stent and 2 balloonings in the other.

This is against a quote before I went in of £5,000 (max £6,000) for 2 bypass ops - at the time the State Hospital had told me that both legs needed doing. The stent and ballooning procedures were done in 25 minutes under local anaesthetic by the radiologist and cannot possibly compare to a second full bypass op. I believed £4,100 was about right (maybe a bit high) against the estimate. (cont).....

Jovial_John


Joined: 31/01/2009
Posts: 1024

Message Posted:
24/10/2010 13:18

.. (cont)

For 2 weeks I have been querying the bill and it is now reduced to 18,928 lira (£8490 - more than double what I believe is fair) because the doctor personally checked the itemised bill (which is in Turkish medical speak) and found several items charged twice (which says nothing for their accounting procedures). Despite the doctor confirming to the accounting staff that the estimate was indeed £5000, they will not budge and will not honour the estimate and they continue to demand that I pay the full amount. Their only concession is that they will allow me to pay monthly.

I feel totally cheated. I asked for an estimate to make sure that I could afford it before I went ahead - I would have found another solution if I could not. Please, please, please - if you go to this place demand an estimate in writing and make sure they understand that you will pay no more than the estimate. I continue to argue but I have little hope and see no option but to pay this extortionate bill.

Jovial_John


Joined: 31/01/2009
Posts: 1024

Message Posted:
24/10/2010 13:19

As a further point to this, my story remains part of the Near East Hospital article in the new issue of Living magazine (my secret identity destroyed of course) despite what has happened. I want to be fair to Tom Roche who knows all about the problem of the bill. He very honourably said that reporting the dispute did not fit the profile of his magazine and he would not do so - but he gave me the option of being removed completely from the article. I gave him permission to continue because I do not want to disappoint the medical staff who are looking forward to their photo being published.

Jovial_John


Joined: 31/01/2009
Posts: 1024

Message Posted:
24/10/2010 13:21

P.S. If I knew how to do so I would scrub the 'Jovial' now.

measey


Joined: 07/02/2009
Posts: 1037

Message Posted:
24/10/2010 13:36

Jovailjohn. good imformative post hope everthing is going well for you good luck for the future.



Measey.

nurseawful



Joined: 06/02/2009
Posts: 5934

Message Posted:
24/10/2010 13:49

John,

Sorry to here this has happened to you but on the plus side you have warned others of the pitfalls we often encounter here.



The moral of the story is 'DON'T AGREE TO ANY PROCEDURES WITHOUT GETTING A WRITTEN QUOTE' unfortunately sometimes not everything goes to plan in hospitals so ask for the worst possible scenario cost wise as well.



Chris

breezyboy


Joined: 14/05/2007
Posts: 1179

Message Posted:
24/10/2010 14:07

I think a lot of the costs could be in the tests. I had a major op lasting 6-7 hours for cancer 2 days in ICU and a total of a week in hospital and the bill was less than £7000. However an MRI scan is £550 and a CT scan about £1000. Chemo was £800 a trip and the bill for a year was £55000. If you want a good UK insurance company WPA have never argued about a penny of this and paid all bills immediately.

Jovial_John


Joined: 31/01/2009
Posts: 1024

Message Posted:
24/10/2010 14:42

measey

Thank you for the comment and the good wishes.



breezeboy

The tests were included in the estimate - of that I am sure. Maybe the second CT scan was not because that was to check my heart before they decided whether an epidural or full anaesthesia was appropriate - an age thing apparently. But they knew I would need one or the other and they knew my age so it should have been included.

I had top line PPP for 20 years in the UK and never once claimed. Here I never bothered. C'est La Vie.



nurseawful

Admittedly my estimate wasn't written but the doctor later confirmed it and the assistant finance officer who prepared it alongside the doctor was also present during my discussion of the bill. However she only spoke Turkish so I don't know what she said - but she didn't appear to contradict the doctor. The £6,000 was the 'worst possible scenario cost'. Unfortunately they didn't compute their own incompetance into 'worst possible scenario'.

Geoff


Joined: 25/06/2008
Posts: 1370

Message Posted:
24/10/2010 16:32

As per previous threads this Uni has a superb Dental Faculty also.

My wife had 10 implants with bridgework for 17 teeth attached to them, GBP £ 9,500

Brill

Geoff

Famagusta City

Brinsley


Joined: 04/04/2009
Posts: 6858

Message Posted:
24/10/2010 16:45

What happens if you die after a minor operation because of their incompetence? Who do they bill then? Keep the body until the family estate clears the debt? Bet they can't be sued for negligence!



Richard

Dr.Muhammed


Joined: 07/02/2011
Posts: 2

Message Posted:
07/02/2011 14:16

Hello all,



I am a medical student in Near East Uni.

I have heard about the same complaints written in this forum from other people.



I would be happy if you send me your complaints and requests about the hospital so I can speak to the ones in charge there.



my email is shanableh1@gmail.com



Muhammed Shanableh

scoobydoo


Joined: 10/11/2008
Posts: 2434

Message Posted:
07/02/2011 21:58

My experience of the NEU hospital was great.



I used this hospital last December and they gave me a quote, minimum and maximum as it depended on how many drugs you may have needed both during and after the op, and it came well with in the price.



The price of each nights stay automatically includes someone staying with you and their meals.



The staff and facilities are superb and they came around so many times each day to clean.



The meals are typically Turkish however if you ask to speak to the dietician, she will visit you to find out what you like and make something accordingly, most times we ate the Turkish food.



Therefore, based on my experience, I cannot fault this hospital at all.

Maz


Joined: 29/03/2009
Posts: 1924

Message Posted:
07/02/2011 22:54

Thanks for answering my question way back, and now of course I would be terrified of going near the place. I know they have superb facilities, absolutely no doubt about that. And I have heard how good and helpful and caring the staff are, but I also know the story of Len Grainger, whose disputed bill is still an ongoing argument.



IN spite of what has been sai din the Press, Kay, his wife, is insistent that she was never informed of the rising bill only the good and firm statement 'We save lives here!'



At the end of the day, either you can afford it or you can't. Either you are happy to stay here and pay up, or die. Me? £55,000 out of the question. That would pay for a trip to Switzerland and an end to it all, and leave some money for my nearest and dearest. What price life? As Tony Curtis said 'Life is a visit with a time limit.' Maybe, just maybe some of us have to choose the limit.

scoobydoo


Joined: 10/11/2008
Posts: 2434

Message Posted:
08/02/2011 07:45

Maz,



I trust no one and therefore I get everything in writing as I did my quote plus a max price and as I do with everyone in the TRNC who I am going to use the services of.



I won't comment on the story of Len Grainger as I don't know the full story (both sides) but my op cost about £3,200 including my stay at the hospital and I don't want to go into details but the same op in UK would easily have been 3 times that price, I know as I checked it out in full.



So yes I could afford it but what I couldn't afford was to go back to UK and have the same op and as I have been here 7.5 years I am no longer entitled to anything from the NHS.



I don't want to get into the politics of the bills but the hospital is there to make money and you can get a detailed bill at anytime you are there (we did) and make the choices but the longer you are there the more it will cost.

Jovial_John


Joined: 31/01/2009
Posts: 1024

Message Posted:
08/02/2011 07:54

Maz.

I agree - I would never go near the place again for treatment. I remain very angry about what was done to me - it was pure theft. Each time I go to pay I am treated like a criminal despite the fact that we reached an agreement on payments. Last month I went to pay and stopped by his department to ask for my doctor (just to say "hello") and 5 minutes later there was some suit and a security guard telling me I cannot come to the hospital because I owe money. It is beyond their understanding that they were wrong to give an estimate and then charge double - they say "That is what it cost - that is what you must pay".

I have heard of several people taken to court by them for non-payment of huge bills. I would take that chance myself but but my doctor would testify to the estimate and that would go very badly for him and his career.

DO NOT TRUST THIS HOSPITAL - THEY ARE CHEATS WITH NO HONOUR. Only go for treatment if you have unlimited financial means because an estimate means nothin

Jovial_John


Joined: 31/01/2009
Posts: 1024

Message Posted:
08/02/2011 07:58

But I think their attitude will hurt them badly. I hear that the owner is already annoyed that he has spent so much money and he has so few patients. My friend's daughter went on a conducted tour and there were only 3 patients in the hospital. I also hear from a TC friend that "everybody knows" about the costs and nobody goes now. Sure, that is all rumour, but it makes sense.