How to contact ambulance service?
Aug 16th 2015, 8:46 am
#16
Concierge
Joined: May 2006
Location: ex ex-pat, in Taunton
Posts: 27,217
Re: How to contact ambulance service?
So, OK you have a heart attack somewhere in a small village miles from the nearest private hospital, which is your preference, being taken to your private hospital some 100km away, or to the nearest hospital 5km away, first case scenario, you get to the right hospital, according to what you want, but arrive dead, second case you get there in 10 mins, and survive. The choice is certainly yours.. but why?..
In many countries the public ambulance may well be under orders to take you to the nearest hospital offering the service. In Spain they had the opposite problem, people, particularly visitors, were being taken to the hospital that offered the biggest kickbacks to the ambulance personnel, so people got taken to private hospitals instead of the public ones, and then had to pay.
Incidentally if you dial 112 in the UK you will get through to the emergency services, and the same, I believe, for 911.
In many countries the public ambulance may well be under orders to take you to the nearest hospital offering the service. In Spain they had the opposite problem, people, particularly visitors, were being taken to the hospital that offered the biggest kickbacks to the ambulance personnel, so people got taken to private hospitals instead of the public ones, and then had to pay.
Incidentally if you dial 112 in the UK you will get through to the emergency services, and the same, I believe, for 911.
Aug 16th 2015, 8:46 am
#17
Polished expat
Joined: Jul 2014
Location: Arcos de Valdevez "Onde Portugal se fez"
Posts: 16,832
Re: How to contact ambulance service?
There are some things that are only covered by the state health service.
Does private health insurance cover serious accident/emergency treatment? Is there even an emergency department at the private hospital in Viana, Ukkram?
Does private health insurance cover serious accident/emergency treatment? Is there even an emergency department at the private hospital in Viana, Ukkram?
Aug 16th 2015, 8:51 am
#18
Banned
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 26,724
Re: How to contact ambulance service?
If I am being cut out of a car, or in the middle of a heart attack I just want the quickest response the fact I have private health insurance would probably be the last thing in my mind.
I have never heard of the Uk ambulance service diverting to the local bupa hospital becsuse the patient they are carrying does not want to go to the local NHS. A& E
How many private hospitals have an A& E depatment.
I have never heard of the Uk ambulance service diverting to the local bupa hospital becsuse the patient they are carrying does not want to go to the local NHS. A& E
How many private hospitals have an A& E depatment.
Last edited by EMR; Aug 16th 2015 at 8:54 am.
Aug 16th 2015, 9:09 am
#19
Hostage Negotiator
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 5,173
Re: How to contact ambulance service?
If we are talking about a life-threatening emergency then the decision will be made for you but I think it would matter a great deal that they take you to the hospital best able to deal with your needs.
In a non-life-threatening emergency but using the emergency services (which is very common) then I think you would care a lot where you are taken.
In a non-life-threatening emergency but using the emergency services (which is very common) then I think you would care a lot where you are taken.
Aug 16th 2015, 9:19 am
#20
Banned
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 26,724
Re: How to contact ambulance service?
If we are talking about a life-threatening emergency then the decision will be made for you but I think it would matter a great deal that they take you to the hospital best able to deal with your needs.
In a non-life-threatening emergency but using the emergency services (which is very common) then I think you would care a lot where you are taken.
In a non-life-threatening emergency but using the emergency services (which is very common) then I think you would care a lot where you are taken.
Health provider.
Is that the road you want to go down .
Credit cards at the ready everyvtime you call 112.
Aug 16th 2015, 9:29 am
#21
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Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 336
Re: How to contact ambulance service?
bloody hell i seem to agree with EMR 
Aug 16th 2015, 11:07 am
#23
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Feb 2007
Location: Land of no recession
Posts: 10,718
Re: How to contact ambulance service?
Be it Police, Fire, Ambulance, Coastguard or any other emergency.
Once through to an operator then you can be more specific.Also again generally you can ask for someone who speaks a language you are happy that you can convey the nature of the emergency to in detail without confusion or misunderstanding.
Aug 16th 2015, 11:29 am
#24
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Joined: Nov 2009
Location: Alcobaça
Posts: 4,978
Re: How to contact ambulance service?
Ukkram. Hi Which Insurance Company do you have your policy with please.
Aug 16th 2015, 11:45 am
#25
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Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2012
Location: Viana do Castelo
Posts: 1,385
Re: How to contact ambulance service?
As a p.s Ukk I asked OH this morning about this (he being connected with the AFPOP organisation) and indeed whilst there is a lot of info in their guide book about medical services there isn't an emergency no for the individual hospitals!! only their normal contact no ,which I guess we have to assume will send out an ambulance? He is going to make that a priority on monday to check out if that is indeed the case...
I grew up in a country where the government ambulance would prefer to transport patients to private hospitals due to the over crowded gov hospitals and there are private ambulances with advanced life support paramedics that also transport patients to any hospital. I assumed it was the same here.
The only private hospital in a 90 km radius is here in Viana and I live directly opposite it. They are well equipped and staffed by specialists in most fields including plastic surgery, cardiology and dentistry.
I see 112 ambulances at this hospital almost daily but mostly from neighbouring towns.
The only public hospital in the northern region is also here in Viana and is a 4 minute drive from my home.
We were between the 2 when the incident took place.
The ambulance driver expressed his concern that my wife does not have National health card and it would be a problem at the public hospital.
Last edited by Ukkram; Aug 16th 2015 at 11:58 am.
Aug 16th 2015, 11:46 am
#26
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Aug 16th 2015, 12:28 pm
#27
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Location: Alcobaça
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Re: How to contact ambulance service?
ALL Insurance Companies have a Client Repayment System for cost accrued in transporting the insured person to any Hospital .
The first trip , the Client is reimbursed directly, after they settle the invoice sent by the Ambulance provider, & the paid invoice is sent on to the insurance company, for subsequent trips , the Client is issued with a "declaration" by the hospital stating they attended the Hospital - date - time arrived - time left - reason for attending.
This declaration is given to the Taxi - Ambulance who transport the client to the hospital & the insurance company reimburses them directly.
I volunteer for our local Ambulance Service & this is how the system works.
We transport clients to Public & Private Hospitals !
But then again EMR knows everything ,so I'm sure "it" will try to pick holes in the facts.
Aug 16th 2015, 12:43 pm
#28
Hostage Negotiator
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 5,173
Re: How to contact ambulance service?
As per usual 100% wrong
ALL Insurance Companies have a Client Repayment System for cost accrued in transporting the insured person to any Hospital .
The first trip , the Client is reimbursed directly, after they settle the invoice sent by the Ambulance provider, & the paid invoice is sent on to the insurance company, for subsequent trips , the Client is issued with a "declaration" by the hospital stating they attended the Hospital - date - time arrived - time left - reason for attending.
This declaration is given to the Taxi - Ambulance who transport the client to the hospital & the insurance company reimburses them directly.
I volunteer for our local Ambulance Service & this is how the system works.
We transport clients to Public & Private Hospitals !
But then again EMR knows everything ,so I'm sure "it" will try to pick holes in the facts.
ALL Insurance Companies have a Client Repayment System for cost accrued in transporting the insured person to any Hospital .
The first trip , the Client is reimbursed directly, after they settle the invoice sent by the Ambulance provider, & the paid invoice is sent on to the insurance company, for subsequent trips , the Client is issued with a "declaration" by the hospital stating they attended the Hospital - date - time arrived - time left - reason for attending.
This declaration is given to the Taxi - Ambulance who transport the client to the hospital & the insurance company reimburses them directly.
I volunteer for our local Ambulance Service & this is how the system works.
We transport clients to Public & Private Hospitals !
But then again EMR knows everything ,so I'm sure "it" will try to pick holes in the facts.
and I'm sure this is 100% correct.
Aug 16th 2015, 12:46 pm
#29
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Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2012
Location: Viana do Castelo
Posts: 1,385
Re: How to contact ambulance service?
This may differ between regions as I had first hand experience that this is not the case here.
Aug 16th 2015, 12:51 pm
#30
Banned
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 26,724
Re: How to contact ambulance service?
As per usual 100% wrong
ALL Insurance Companies have a Client Repayment System for cost accrued in transporting the insured person to any Hospital .
The first trip , the Client is reimbursed directly, after they settle the invoice sent by the Ambulance provider, & the paid invoice is sent on to the insurance company, for subsequent trips , the Client is issued with a "declaration" by the hospital stating they attended the Hospital - date - time arrived - time left - reason for attending.
This declaration is given to the Taxi - Ambulance who transport the client to the hospital & the insurance company reimburses them directly.
I volunteer for our local Ambulance Service & this is how the system works.
We transport clients to Public & Private Hospitals !
But then again EMR knows everything ,so I'm sure "it" will try to pick holes in the facts.
ALL Insurance Companies have a Client Repayment System for cost accrued in transporting the insured person to any Hospital .
The first trip , the Client is reimbursed directly, after they settle the invoice sent by the Ambulance provider, & the paid invoice is sent on to the insurance company, for subsequent trips , the Client is issued with a "declaration" by the hospital stating they attended the Hospital - date - time arrived - time left - reason for attending.
This declaration is given to the Taxi - Ambulance who transport the client to the hospital & the insurance company reimburses them directly.
I volunteer for our local Ambulance Service & this is how the system works.
We transport clients to Public & Private Hospitals !
But then again EMR knows everything ,so I'm sure "it" will try to pick holes in the facts.
Just read Ukrams post..
Maybe you should provide your mobile no to every expat in Portugal so that they can call you so that you can explain to the person on the end of the phone that they are wrong because " ingles " says so.
There would not be enough hours in the day.