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Ambulance transfer Sallanches to UK update

 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
So my poor better half has fractured his L2 having fallen on a bend on piste and fallen 2m into a gully in Combloux.

The good news is that it's a stable fracture and will be treated in a brace for a few months. It's going to be a painful one though hopefully will not need surgery.

He's in hospital and they are hoping to transfer him back to UK on Tuesday. Dr indicated that he wants him to lie down for journey so would need ambulance rather than flight (we have car here so I would drive back day before with one or both boys). Insurance co have so far not excelled themselves (will be changing after this has settled). I just wondered if anyone had experience of road transfer back to UK? It's not going to be pleasant for him but neither would a flight be. I'm wondering whether to send eldest (sensible with healthcare experience) with him or to leave it to crew. We think they can accommodate a passenger though I would be surprised given the space etc. Does the crew come from UK to collect him?

Information lacking all round and hard to pin down Dr at hospital - I speak a little French but OH is really out of it, in pain, sick etc. Medical report has been sent to insurance but hasn't been translated yet rolling eyes In theory this will make things clearer...
Ok ish on medical side I think as have sent pics of X-rays to my ortho colleagues and nephew who amazingly is a spinal surgery reg at the moment with an excellent boss who has also had a look

I off to bed soon but will check in here in the morning

Sad


Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Sun 19-04-15 20:14; edited 1 time in total
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@igLou, commiserations, that's terrible bad luck. I would say road ambulance is the way to go. Normally you'd have a nurse or paramedic escort in the ambulance. Sometimes a doctor if serious enough. They are possibly concerned about flying and risk of DVT and air ambulances are not comfortable at all. If your other half is "out of it" anyway the time will pass quickly. Hope it works out.
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@igLou, can't help wirh the practicalities...but glad the fracture is stable. Best wishes to you both x
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@igLou, so sorry to read all of this - just read it all out to D who says send all our best to K. Have to admit that I had to google L2 to find out more. Poor old thing.

We can't help medically - but I know that our next door neighbour here was taken back in an ambulance to Wimbledon when she broke her pelvis three or four years ago. Most people we know who have had injuries have ended up being flown but there was a good reason for her to go by ambulance. I will try and see her and let you know if there are any points to know about as they are here at the moment.

Let me know if we can help by popping down to Sallanches - or in any way.

Have a good night's sleep.
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Thanks both
@Pruman, I'm not sure DVT risk is as high on their list as it is on mine Toofy Grin I've had to get bossy Embarassed
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@Pamski, thank you both.. I will see how next few days pan out (Miranda & Chris have been great ) and so good to be in familiar territory. I will pass on your regards..Would be good to hear about your neighbours experience too.
There was a really sh!!ty time last night when the insurance co said he had gone over no of ski day so our policy and that we may not be covered Shocked but that has been 'clarified'
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@igLou, so sorry to hear about the accident. It will be very stressful and worrying for you. Are you sure you are OK to drive home? I know I insisted I was after J's accident, but by the time it came to it, I'm not sure I could have got as far as Lyon, and I was glad that Agenterre had insisted on coming to drive me home.
From experience, it will be left for your insurers and the hospital to sort out between them the arrangements for the transfer home, although they should keep you informed. The 'Etrangers' office in Grenoble CHU were quite helpful.
If you need any translation help let me know, although my spinal fracture vocabulary might be a bit rusty now. Hubby was able to fly back on a schedule flight, the champagne BA plied him with helped enormously, but he didn't need morphine by then. I wouldn't have liked to think he was in tremendous pain for such a long time.
If there is anything I can do, let me know.
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@igLou, would your ski or breakdown insurance provide a driver? While you would wish your OH to have someone with him it would be a terribly uncomfortable journey for a passenger. I'd be inclined to leave it to the professionals.
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Our insurers wanted my hubby to be accompanied on the journey home, and would have provided medical staff if my son had not been able to go with J on the plane. They would not have provided a driver as I had a driving licence. Car insurers waived the fee for the extra driver when I explained the circumstances. Although everything with the medical assistance was reasonably smooth it was other aspects that were an issue which was sorted for me by another sH. I hope they manage to get their act together for you. One of the problems I found was not having a named contact and having to explain everything over and over again.
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@igLou, It's a loooong way back lying down in an ambulance - and surely that would bounce him around too much.. Would your insurance pay for air-ambulance to fly him home? If that happens I believe it comes equipped with medical staff.
Worried about you too,driving back on your own? Is your ankle up to it? Is your eldest a driver? He may be best helpiing you out if so.

I wish him well - horrible way to end the season & sending hugs to you both xx
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Worried about you too,driving back on your own?

+1.
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I feel fine to drive home as will have someone with me and may stopover. It's a company car so slightly complicated as they aren't inclined to have more than one extra (me) on insurance and they vetted me very thoroughly! I am hoping that K will be be feeling much better by then (albeit in pain) and that I will not be as worried as yesterday. The medical staff were very laid back about it almost as if it was a fractured 5th metatarsal Toofy Grin
@holidayloverxx, I agree that it would be a pretty dire journey for eldest and he is 6'3.

Just had text from insurers who say translation has been done but they are ringing Dr tomorrow so it mustn't be clear cut.

Finally off to bed - just finished wrapping a few pressies for youngest's 16th tomorrow.
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@igLou, I think Linds used to do Air repatriation flights, might have some useful info.
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@genepi, I won't drive if any doubts. Ankle is good when driving as it doesn't stiffen up and it was tested on way down.

Thank you all for your support Very Happy
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We were skiing with friends 2 years ago and their teenage daughter fell and suffered compression fracture of her spine. She needed to be kept flat but they did fly her home, so not impossible to be flown back, although it turned out to be a private flight, and there was a nurse in accompaniment.
Mum stayed with daughter, Dad drove their car home. He was in pieces at having to leave them in France, and would have found the drive very hard on his own. As it was, our teenage son (who is his godson) went with him as company and distraction, which helped.
Daughter spent 3 months in a back brace, but has essentially made a full recovery, fortunately.
Good luck @igLou,
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Quote:

Finally off to bed - just finished wrapping a few pressies for youngest's 16th tomorrow.

Touch of Déja-vu there , it was son no 2's birthday (19th I think) the day after we got back to the UK following J's neck injury. We were meant to be celebrating it in France. I had to rush out at 8am to buy cards and stuff, as they'd been left behind in Serre Che in our rush to pack up.
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@igLou, sorry to hear about this. Hope OH gets comfortable soon and has a speedy recovery.
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@igLou, aarghhhh, so sorry to hear this. Very best wishes for a speedy recovery. Regarding flights versus road transport, my bro-in-law's doctors in Chambery said that he must be repatriated lying down too and this was, kind of, achieved in the air ambulance arranged by the insurers (which flew him from Chambery into Biggin Hill.) I say 'kind of' in that he was able to lie down when he was in the plane, but apparently there was some problem actually getting him in and he had to walk up the steps! Sorry if this is entirely irrelevant, just thought I'd mention it in case an air ambulance remains an option.
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Are you sure you are OK to drive home?

@igLou, be careful. You've been living on adrenaline but...... Up very early because I have to drive to Genoa and back today and it's snowing - need to get there before mid-day. I will be back late afternoon today (Saturday) and plan to drive back to UK Sunday/Monday. I can help drive you back if necessary. Please don't hesitate to ask. You have a PM.

Hopefully he'll be pretty well out of it for much of the journey - I wouldn't send eldest in the ambulance; you might be glad of him, too.

Lots of hugs.
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@igLou, so good to see that you have been getting useful, past experiences on here. And also I was comforted last night to think that you were with Miranda and Chris. Will be in touch and keep an eye on here.
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@igLou, really sorry to hear this. No advice to give but sending you big hugs. X
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Thank you all lovely snowHeads and practical advice. Hopefully will know more today.

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@igLou, so sorry to hear your troubles. I've no experience to share but send you good thoughts and hope it all sorts itself out for you.
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Would a row of seats in a commercial flight suffice for the patient to lie down? Snowcard arranged that for me (together with an adjacent seat across the aisle for my companion) when I had a fractured achilles tendon. I realise the injuries are vastly different, but I did wonder if a row of seats might be adequate. Snowcard also arranged suitable transport to Lyon and from Gatwick. Something similar might be pleasanter than a road ambulance ride home for your OH.

My sympathy to you and your OH. It's bad enough coping with the injury in a foreign country, let alone the hassle of returning home, no matter how good the insurance company is. I wish you both the best possible outcome.
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@igLou, I was in exactly the same situation a few years ago. Stable fractures of L3, L4 and L5, treated with a brace. I needed transport from Thonon back to Glasgow.

Insurance company tried for a few days to get me a row of seats in a commercial flight so that I could be transported lying down, but couldn't make it happen. So they got me a PRIVATE FLIGHT from Geneva to Prestwick. It was in a Cessna, so took a while (plus we had to refuel at Kent international!).

A road transfer all the way back would have been grim, every bump in the road would have been agony. I wouldn't accept that.

PM me if you want any more info or just want to chat about the recovery!

EDIT: Once fitted with the brace, he'll be able to walk enough to get in/out of the ambulance/plane if necessary. It's sitting/bending which is not allowed. Standing up and lying down are OK. My docs encouraged me to stand up and walk around as much as possible as putting weight on the fracture helps the healing process. Memorable conversation with the spinal consulatant in Glasgow: "So, have you been able to walk around much?" "Well, I went up Ben Lomond at the weekend." He was somewhat bemused.
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I had a herniated disc at Sallanches hospital and once stable was flown from Annecy to Northolt in a Kingair ambulance courtesy of First Direct. All organised by Insurance co talking to Dr at Hospital directly and then assessing the condition. Insurance co will be loath to exacerbate the condition as it then will become their liabilty (i.e. 14 hour road transfer.) These french transfer ambulances can't go at more than about 60 mph either . I don't think a passenger would help tbh, eye mask and ear plugs more use. Road ambulance is the norm for the french however which is why it is being discussed I suspect. My room mate at Sallanches went home to Brittany that way.

Good Luck!
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@igLou,

Can't offer any advice but hope other half has a comfortable journey back, and you have a safe and stress free drive back.

And lets hope he has a speedy recovery.
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Thank you all.

I very nearly had a nervous breakdown today when phoned insurance from hospital car park for the update they had promised me hours before. Dim wishy washy woman who had no understanding of the situation and certainly little empathy. However I made my position clear and said what I would expect as a registered nurse and rather than as a wife and asked her to note that on our file. She said they would need to speak with OH which I said would be difficult given that he is really not feeling very well and in considerable pain.
Anyway!, 5 mins late had a call from a sensible, professional woman for repatriation team (a nurse who does this all the time). Hurrah! Breakdown averted. We have a provisional booking for private air ambulance transfer to UK hospital on Tuesday.

@stevomcd, I may well be in touch! He is not yet very mobile due to pain mainly with a couple of other issues. Hopefully this will improve quickly and that he will only need a couple days in UK hospital. I have been advised to ensure he has another X-ray (lateral standing) but this doesn't seem to be on agenda here
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@stevomcd, ps we live in East Sussex so maybe will get away without refuelling? wink Quite surprised you had a Cessna!
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She said they would need to speak with OH

Shocked rolling eyes Shocked Same problem as Hells Bells had! Maybe something to think about when arranging insurance - can you have a "joint policy" like a "joint mortgage" with both partners being considered sufficiently grown up to deal with insurance.

Very glad to hear you will have an air ambulance, @igLou. Insurance companies won't usually pay for an extra driver if there already is one (my niece was refused after hubby and main driver broke collar bone at half term). And mine would have paid to repatriate me, but not my car. They agreed to meet cost of somebody coming out and driving me home instead of repatriating me, within the same cost.

Are you able to stay on at Miranda's? I have space here if you are stuck. Not far away.
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@igLou, Phew! So glad nervous breakdown was averted & repatriation is sorted! Have you decided when you will head off?
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And I'm now back in Les Saisies . You have the phone number.
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@pam w, yes, we had that too, but only on our return to the UK, the medical assistance team in France were quite happy to deal with me. A lot of our conversations took place when hubby was undergoing 5 hours of surgery. I was actually the main policy holder so it shouldn't have been an issue. @igLou, I hope that you now have someone sensible to deal with, it certainly helps the stress levels when you feel that someone is listening to you.
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@igLou, I've just read this. I'm not able to offer any help or advice, but sending you hugs and hoping you all get back home as quickly and comfortably as possible. xx
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@igLou, oh Lordy. No advice, just lots of good wishes for you all
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@igLou, Now home, and sending you the various numbers by e mail. Chin up... makes life at home seem a bit of a doddle doesn't it.

messages via fb.
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Quite surprised you had a Cessna!


It was a private "air taxi" rather than a dedicated air ambulance. We got all the usual posh food that the rich types paying a fortune to get somewhere quickly usually get, so it worked out pretty well!

Can't quite remember the details, I think it was an 8-seat plane and they'd removed some of the seats to leave space to put me in on a back-board of some description. They flew out a specialist nurse (who turned out to live at Glentress Mountain Bike centre in Scotland) to accompany me back!

My other half is usually quite a nervous flyer, but was loving the view as we flew over the mountains (I could only see the ceiling). She also commented on how impressed she was that they'd sent 2 pilots to fly such a tiny plane. Pilots' response was that it was only because the autopilot was broken!
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@stevomcd, Laughing Laughing Shocked

@pam w, no probs with accommodation thanks to Miranda though in fact might go a little earlier than planned.
Hate leaving OH though think it's right thing to do and he is stable. I will be leaving him various contact numbers in case. It's so reassuring to know that there are friends in different valleys relatively close by.

@genepi, @pam w, @Hells Bells, I don't know why she suddenly said she would have to speak to K - it's a joint policy and they had been happy for me to share his vital statistics earlier rolling eyes Toofy Grin But she was the most useless one so far.
Another woman phoned yesterday evening (my mobile) and asked to speak to OH. I replied that he was in hospital and she said 'Oh.'
Then said that she thought I was back in UK rolling eyes And that was with our file in front of her. Lots of f***wits but hoping the one competent one is working today. I might tie a tag onto his hospital ID bracelet saying please return to....
Will see what transpires this morning and if on schedule for Tuesday then I will leave later today and stay near Troyes overnight.

All part of life's rich tapestry eh Skullie
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All the best with the journey, @igLou. Take it easy. It'll be good to be back together at home with this acute stage of the journey behind you.
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@igLou, Safe journey home! Sunday's a good day to travel as there are fewer lorries.
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