Mrs Trellis Posted November 21, 2013 Share Posted November 21, 2013 I am due for an operation and my insurance includes a private room. Do I have to tell the hospital in advance? I will be in intensive care first for a few days. I know a private room isn't always available - a French friend had to make a big fuss to get one even though it was included in her insurance. My other half was told a single room was not available but in fact the other bed was empty.I wasn't bothered till a friend shared a room with a really vile old person who insisted on using the commode in the room, instead of the bathroom, every time my friend's meal was brought! Another friend was fed up with the person in the next bed having a constant stream of noisy visitors.The hospital brochure mentions they need a letter from my GP - is that usual? I hesitate to bother him as he's always so busy.I don't eat meat so that will be interesting. Probably won't feel like eating anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyh4 Posted November 21, 2013 Share Posted November 21, 2013 Your pre-admission paperwork should include options like single occupancy rooms etc.You will certainly need some form of paperwork either from your doctor or the surgeon who will be handling op. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gardengirl Posted November 21, 2013 Share Posted November 21, 2013 Only double rooms were available when my husband was taken into hospital. The other chap was from the Auvergne and very difficult to understand, even for the french medical staff. He had his TV on all the time, very loudly.As regards food, my husband was on drips for the first few days, including his nutrition - and he wished he was still on it when he was served his meals; he said the food was utterly disgusting! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gardian Posted November 21, 2013 Share Posted November 21, 2013 [quote user="Mrs Trellis"]I am due for an operation and my insurance includes a private room. Do I have to tell the hospital in advance? [/quote]In my experience, its only when you turn up for your op that you submit your CV & Mutuelle and then get your 'etiquettes' (the page of labels with all your details on them) in return.It would seem sensible to me, given that its a planned procedure, to pop in to the hospital a few days in advance and make clear your entitlement and preference. As I'm sure you understand, it all rather depends on circumstances on the day, but at least if the staff know they'll be in a better position to try to meet your needs and entitlement.As for food ................. well, who knows? When Mrs G was 'in dock', I tended to scoff her meals shortly after admission, but she then got her appetite back and it wasn't half bad. I quite liked it anyway. GG .......... when Mr GG next 'has a turn' (no, I don't mean that really!!) ask to get sent up here in the rural Gard. Mrs T ................ all the best for your op & happy landings. Let us know how it was. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NormanH Posted November 21, 2013 Share Posted November 21, 2013 Single rooms are usually available but obviously depend on circumstances such as the gravity of your case. If there is a real medical need you don't even have to pay, but hopefully you won't be in that situation.For a single room that you have chosen for yourself and which will be paid for by your Mutualle you should ask in advance and either contact your Mutuelle your self or ask the hospital admissions to do it before you stay to see if the Insurance will pay the cost direct, or if you will have to advance it and claim back. The same applies to the payment of the 18€ daily charge which will be paid, but again which you might have to advance.I had to give a 'chèque de caution' of 200€ which I got back when I left. My Insurance paid the daily charge direct, but I had to fund the single room supplement and claim it back.In that case it is important to get a receipt and a 'Bulletin de Situation' which details your stay.The insurance will want both and will want the originals.. I tried faxing a copy but they refused to pay up except on receipt of the originals.The days you spend in intensive care should not be charged for, so if you have a night in a single room, then 3 days in intensive care then 5 days in a single room you should only pay the 6 nights.You may also find that you don't return to the room you were in first, so don't make yourself too much at home on that first night..Very best wishes for your operation, and don't hesitate to ask if you need more information.As for the letter, it depends on the route by which you arrived at the Hospital. Normally you have been referred by a specialist who will have written, but if it was your GP then he is the person. Sometimes they also ask for Xrays and blood tests and usually a consultation with the anaesthetist . If they haven't asked for that then perhaps they require a letter from your GP about your general health before an Operation.I even had to see a cardiologist before the anaesthetist, and the blood tests before both... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YCCMB Posted November 21, 2013 Share Posted November 21, 2013 Good luck with your operation. I really don't know how people cope with all the additional stress, strain, paperwork and preparation involved in going into hospital in France. what a performance! How nice, in the UK not to have to spend ages amassing a portfolio of documents and having to check rights and entitlements as well as making sure all the finances are in place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idun Posted November 21, 2013 Share Posted November 21, 2013 We have never had private rooms in spite of asking for them. It has always depended on availability and none were available for us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patf Posted November 21, 2013 Share Posted November 21, 2013 I hope your operation and time in hospital goes well, Mrs. T.I had a couple of hospital sessions in 2006, and shared a room 4 times. Hip replacement, then heart attack. My french improved in leaps and bounds, and I met 4 very interesting french ladies, 2 of whom I still keep in touch with.I don't eat meat either and found the alternatives acceptable, plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, though the fish was overcooked.I don't remember the paperwork, though I did have to have the all clear from the dentist, and blood test results. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Trellis Posted November 21, 2013 Author Share Posted November 21, 2013 Thanks all, that is (generally) helpful!Popping in is not really an option as the hospital is about an hour and a half's drive from here and the parking horrendous. For the last appointment we drove round and round looking for a space and found one 10 minutes walk away. In the pouring rain. I've seen the anaesthetist and had an X-Ray and cardiograph. I checked with insurers and the hospital is 'accredited' and a single room would be paid for, but not my husband's lodging on the campus. When he was in hospital we had a different insurer and I was surprised to find they paid towards my stay. However, although I tell him he will get very bored, my husband wants to stay nearby and we don't mind paying to save the long drive. Just need to get the pets sorted and will probably put the dogs in kennels and kind friends will feed the cats.All being well I will only be there a week or so and out just in time for Christmas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NormanH Posted November 21, 2013 Share Posted November 21, 2013 "We have never had private rooms in spite of asking for them. It has always depended on availability and none were available for us." I always have, in 5 different Hospitals in 3 different towns.The only time I didn't get one was for one-night stays for chemotherapy where the length of stay can vary according to how the treatment goes, so it would be very difficult to predict availability of rooms.No doubt someone will come along to say that in the UK you don't even stay in hospital for chemotherapy, "they'd tell you to pull yourself together and get on with it" or "it's someone who can't be arsed to do it themselves" [:D]But then the concerns in the UK are of a different sort...http://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/nov/21/cqc-report-hospital-care-mid-staffs1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NormanH Posted November 21, 2013 Share Posted November 21, 2013 "I checked with insurers and the hospital is 'accredited' and a single room would be paid for, but not my husband's lodging on the campus"Many places will let you have a camp bed in your room if you get a single one. You have to pay extra but the cost is modest ...Ask about 'un lit d'accompagnant' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YCCMB Posted November 21, 2013 Share Posted November 21, 2013 [quote user="NormanH"]"We have never had private rooms in spite of asking for them. It has always depended on availability and none were available for us." I always have, in 5 different Hospitals in 3 different towns.The only time I didn't get one was for one-night stays for chemotherapy where the length of stay can vary according to how the treatment goes, so it would be very difficult to predict availability of rooms.No doubt someone will come along to say that in the UK you don't even stay in hospital for chemotherapy, "they'd tell you to pull yourself together and get on with it" or "it's someone who can't be arsed to do it themselves" [:D]But then the concerns in the UK are of a different sort...http://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/nov/21/cqc-report-hospital-care-mid-staffs1[/quote]IIWY, Norman, I'd see if you can get emergency treatment for that chip on your shoulder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gardengirl Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 Very best wishes for your op, Mrs T. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russethouse Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 No doubt someone will come along to say that in the UK you don't even stay in hospital for chemotherapyDepends on the chemo...my father was happy to continue with his part time job some of the time he was having chemo, not every day, but a fair few.....A friend felt well enough to play golfOther types of chemo really lay you low and neither would be appropriate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YCCMB Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 If you haven't seen this bloke talk about cancer treatment in the UK, Norman, I commend him to you:[url]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-24314722[/url] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NormanH Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 The Usual suspects then [:D]I suspect that the Drip attatched to my Port-A-Cath might have got in the way of my golf swing... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NormanH Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 I checked with insurers and the hospital is 'accredited' and a single room would be paid forI checked with insurers and the hospital is 'accredited' and a single room would be paid forYes but do check whether the insurer will pay direct. Is there an 'Accord Préable'?In my case the hospital admissions faxed the assurer to check this for me.If not you may need to pay in advance and claim back.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quillan Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 [quote user="Mrs Trellis"]Thanks all, that is (generally) helpful!Popping in is not really an option as the hospital is about an hour and a half's drive from here and the parking horrendous. For the last appointment we drove round and round looking for a space and found one 10 minutes walk away. In the pouring rain. I've seen the anaesthetist and had an X-Ray and cardiograph. I checked with insurers and the hospital is 'accredited' and a single room would be paid for, but not my husband's lodging on the campus. When he was in hospital we had a different insurer and I was surprised to find they paid towards my stay. However, although I tell him he will get very bored, my husband wants to stay nearby and we don't mind paying to save the long drive. Just need to get the pets sorted and will probably put the dogs in kennels and kind friends will feed the cats.All being well I will only be there a week or so and out just in time for Christmas.[/quote]When Mrs 'Q' was in hospital I stayed a couple of nights in a hotel nearby. I was talking to the receptionist when I got back on the first night and when I said my stay was because of my wife being in the hospital they gave me a 25% discount. Mind you I might have got the same if I just booked the room through 'booking.com' or another hotel website. My friend asked the hospital about hotels and they send him via email a list of ones people used all of which gave some form of discount upon proof his wife was in hospital which was a letter (or note) that the hospital gave him.As for the 'etiquettes' I went and got them for Mrs 'Q' while she was being admitted. I told the people before I went to get them so they didn't hassle her. It may of course vary from one hospital to another.Best of luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Trellis Posted December 26, 2013 Author Share Posted December 26, 2013 Update! All over and home before Christmas. The care and staff were excellent, which is the important thing.The food unspeakable: 5 days of unpleasant mush + horrendously salty liquid (soupe). Day 5 and 'What would you like for breakfast?' 'What have you got?' A fresh roll, glass of orange juice and chocolat au lait (machine) tasted wonderful. I did get a private room, only needed for 3 and a half days after IC. Great to be home with OH, my cats and dogs and back to comfy bed, cups of tea, TV and edible food (tho not up to eating much yet). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NormanH Posted December 26, 2013 Share Posted December 26, 2013 Glad that it went well and now it is all over.I have always been luckier than that with the food, but the 'tea' is always horrible: a polystyrene cup of lukewarm water and a plastic-wrapped tea-bag that you struggle to liberate.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idun Posted December 26, 2013 Share Posted December 26, 2013 The food I had was horrible too, but tea, well, my friend was a secretary on the next ward along and kept me in lovely tea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwmcn Posted December 26, 2013 Share Posted December 26, 2013 Norman,Have you heard of the Stadium Pal? I wore the real thing for a while after a prostate problem. Thankfully, no cancer involved. My only problem with the hospital I was in (NHS) was some of the useless young nurses. The food was fine and being in a ward with ten other men didn't bother me.http://www.stadiumpal.com/what-works.htmlDavid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NormanH Posted December 26, 2013 Share Posted December 26, 2013 No I never had that...I had a stoma bag for 7 months though.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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