Kibkom North Cyprus Forum

February of this year I was admitted to a private hospital for 3 nights. Total cost, £1000.

Last week discharged from the State Hospital Nicosia with the same but much more serious medical complaint after spending 6 nights there, 3 in the IC Unit. Total cost £300.

A wonderfully helpful London born TC woman accompanied my sister to the payment desk in the State Hospital because as she said, "If I go with you and deal with the bill I will be charged much less." Very true.

I now remember the payment desk staff in the private hospital visibly alter their body language when I approached the desk to pay my bill. Call me what you like but I know they saw me as a cash cow.

It may sound obvious, but Private Hospitals are Businesses, set up to make a profit, pure and simple!

Keith Caley

But not to rip people off which is what they are very good at doing on this Island.

Yes they will rip you off if you let them, that is why you should always ask how much beforehand & also get a second opinion. Gone are the days when people never questioned the word of a Doctor!

Yes Keith Caley private med facilities are in business to make profits but then there is also profiteering and pure theft which happened with the private hospital.

I wasn't able to ask about costs beforehand or get a second opinion because I was literally at Death's Door both times and needed immediate urgent treatments to save my life.

Last year on holiday Hubby was ill Saturday evening, Hotel called a doctor from Ozel hospital she arrived with a nurse and put him on a drip, told to go to the Hospital Sunday morning at 9 am, the doctor he needed to see wasn't on duty that day the receptionist called him and he said he would come at 10.30 am. Gave Hubby ECG and blood tests suspected gall bladder trouble given pain killers, had to go back Monday for Ultrasound which showed infection of the gallbladder so was given antibiotics. We decided to return to the UK early, given a fit to fly letter 2 reports in English one for us and one for GP with a photo of the Ultrasound . The cost was £132 paid it and got it back from insurance.

Ah, but johnrebus you're life-threatening condition would not figure in such a thought-through response from the all wise, all knowing poster in the msg above. In future, perhaps you should have a written question of a quote for a relative or friend to hand to the 112 team for it to pass on!

I would just like to say that my post was not intended to justify profiteering or dishonesty.

There are honest businessmen and dishonest ones, so when deciding on a hospital, (as with a supplier of any service) choose carefully! - and ideally on personal recommendation...

Yes Keith, if your medical state/condition facilitates this.

tomsteel wrote:Yes Keith, if your medical state/condition facilitates this.

Point taken!

IMHO in an emergency the State Hospitals cannot be beaten, the private hospitals do not necessarily have the euipment or staff on site. Girne Hospital has saved both my mother's & husband's lives & when I was badly mauled by a rottweiler this year they called an excellent orthapedic surgeon who was there in less than an hour from Lefkosa.
They insisted on keeping me in overnight & supplied me with intravenous drips for 5 days I do not think I would have had such excellent treatment in UK.
The surgeon himself was surprised at how well my arm has healed as he said the muscle & tissue damage was so severe. We chose to go to him privately after the first 5 days, he redressed the wounds himself at a cost of 80tl every other visit which included all the plaster & bandages which we thought amazingly cheap.

I unfortunately had to use Girne State Hospital 4 years ago and spent 4 days of purgatory in there before discharging myself and transferring to a private hospital.
The so called care and facilities bear no comparison and I would go so far as to say I would not let a dog be "treated" there.
I used Near East Hospital in Girne for emergency dental treatment this year and cannot recommend them high enough, end of the day you pays your money and take your chances but when it is your body for me is a no-brainer.

How any poster can state, "the private hospitals do not necessarily have the equipment or staff on site", beggars belief. The NEUH in Lefkoşa has the most modern equipment and well-trained staff in most of the ME. Indeed, so much so, that patient's travel from all over the ME to be treated there. The British Kolan Hospital has a great reputation also. Hey ho, each to their own I guess!

Tom, two good examples of hospitals that do have staff and equipment on hand.

The phrase used was "do not neccessarily' - meaning that some of the smaller private hospitals may not have the same resources as the larger establishments...

Keith, good point and I take it on board. However, at least if you elect, or are medically able to do so, for a private hospital, you can usually research it. My personal experience of Girne State Hospital was not so enlightening as the poster in msg 11. So much so, that despite being is severe pain with, it later transpired I had kidney stones, I left and went to a private hospital by the Pia Bella Hotel, where I was treated very professionally - and that is the opinion of a retired UK NHS employed Chartered Physiotherapist. However, as I say, each to their own!

Tomsteel I find your posts unecessarily antagonistic the heading on this thread is 'Hospital Bills' & you certainly are not presented with a huge bill when leaving the state hospitals unlike people who have been admitted to Near East or Kolan, both of which hospitals I have been to & been satisfied with.
As we live near Girne it is our preference to go to the state hospital in the event of an emergency & 3 times we have had excellent treatment there. Both my mother & husband were stabilised & then ambulanced to Lefkosa & I only spent 1 night there, I would most probably have transferred to a private hospital if I needed to stay longer.
As for my dogs I certainly would not take them there, they have 5* 24/7 treatment at Petcross now if only they were allowed to treat humans too that would definitely win hands down!

ozankoys, I am pleased you find my " posts unnecessarily antagonistic", as far as you are concerned - they are meant to be so. I find your posts unnecessarily condescending. You previously berated me for daring to mention the ineptitude of the Girne State Hospital Blood Donor service and mixed it into emergency care, which I had never mentioned. Do you have any worthwhile medical qualifications? Should you refrain from an answer, I will not be upset!! Incidentally, in accordance with forum rules, I am being polite as well.

Happy Bayram to you too!! Unfortunately the Blood Donor Service is not the same since Prue retired I am sorry that you & other people have been inconvenienced & I in no way mean to sound condescending.

Mutlu bayram, iyi gunlar. The inconvenience is not the point, it is the reliance of those with life-threatening conditions being let down by a system with inherent flaws. No more on this subject, thank you.

Ozankoys, I couldn't agree more with your comment re Pet Cross (animals), and also wish they were medics for humans! Wonderful, caring service there.

My wife went to Girne State Hospital with a broken ankle. When told by the doctor that it was broken in 2 places and would need metal insert and pins, I said to my wife, "should we go private"? The doctor replied that whether we stayed there or went private, he would be the one doing the operation. She stayed, and the medical support was excellent, although the food was basic! There are a limited number of private rooms attached to the wards at a cost of 50TL per night with a sofa for a guest to sleep on at night and an en suite bathroom. Aftercare was good too, if a little chaotic in the waiting areas.