Scanhealth FAQ

• What transportation services do Scanhealth offer?

Arrange flights to Norway by Ryanair’s direct route from London Stansted Airport to Haugesund. This is a short flight of approximate 90 min.

Personally collect patients at the airport and take them to the hospital for treatment.

Provide accommodation for patients and companion at a local hotel

Personally escort patients to the airport in time for their flight home, with your patient case report in the luggage.

• How long have the healthcare providers been in operation?
  The eye and orthopaedic departments have been in operation since 1999 and 1996.
  The radiology department was established in 1929 and is the oldest private radiology clinic in Norway.
  The fertility department has been in operation since the beginning of 2006.

• How are they rated in the Norwegian healthcare sector?
  We do not have a rating system for hospitals and clinics in Norway, so it is difficult to give an exact figure. We are however one of the very few private hospitals/clinics certified to ISO 9001 and 14001 standard.
  Our hospital had a contract with the Norwegian equivalent of the NHS as a health care provider of orthopaedic surgery. Our radiology department has an ongoing contract for radiological examinations.
  Our hospital was rated as number one by the county of Rogaland's social security office for getting patients back to work faster than any other hospital performing operations on patients receiving sick pay. This was a program run by the local social security office to reduce the amount of sick pay paid.
  We operate a consecutive infection registration system at our hospital, and the average results are half of the national figures.
  There are altogether 11 fertility clinics in Norway. 7 public health clinics and 4 private. Klinikk Hausken is the only private unit on the West Coast of Norway (a population of approx. one million people). The clinic does about 300 IVF cycles per year. The IVF clinics in Norway cooperate to offer the best possible treatment within the field of assisted reproduction for patients.

• Why should I travel to Norway?
  We have no waiting
  Europe’s lowest MRSA infection rate.
  Competitive fees
  High score of patient satisfaction.
  Scandinavia is known for having one of the best health services in the world.

• Why should I travel to Norway for IVF treatment?

No waiting lists and low prices at our IVF centre is a consequence of streamlined workflow and treatment efficiency. Couples are offered 3 treatments.
The Scandinavian countries have the best results for IVF treatment (the annual ESHRE, European Society of Human Reproduction statistics). They also do the most cycles in the world.
The Nordic countries are leaders in the field of elective single embryo transfer procedure (about 50% of all treatment cycles are eSET).
Couples are offered the first consultation free of charge and the patients are able to decide when to start their treatment as it suits them.
We do all the necessary blood tests, sperm analysis and a scan to evaluate the capacity of the ovaries.
The woman’s health is the most important factor when considering IVF treatment. We meet all of the couples personally and ensure that they are given all the relevant, important information before they start their treatment.
Only after we’ve completed the above points do we set the treatment protocol.

• Why are your facilities better than others in France, Turkey etc?
  We are at least equally good. We represent Scandinavian quality and safety

• Are you targeting patients from any other countries other than the UK?
  No, because of the nearness to the UK and London, this is our main market outside of Norway. We offer treatments for patients from the UK because of the direct flight connection between London Stansted and Haugesund – it’s so easy for patients to get to us.

• How do you think UK GP’s will react to your services?
  So far they have been pleased with the treatment given to their patients by us. Quality, quick response to enquiries and medical reports in English sent to them the same day as the patient leaves the hospital.

• Does Scanhealth take any money from the NHS or are all patients self funding?
  No money from the NHS, all patients are either self funding or have a valid health insurance policy with AXA PPP Healthcare.

• With our NHS in crisis, is this just a ‘fast buck’ for the Norwegians? Is it ethical?
  Ethical? Yes of course, we supply professional service and treatments.
  There has been a growing tradition in the UK for patients to use both the private health care offers in the UK and to travel abroad for cheaper, more effective treatment. Approx. 50,000 British residents travel abroad each year for some sort of treatment and this is a growing trend.
  With the NHS cutting funding for treatments, and growing waiting lists, private health care is a reality and patients are going to be forced to seek private treatment whether it’s within the UK or abroad.

• Will private health cover this in any way?
  We now have a contract with AXA PPP Healthcare, this is primarily for ex-patriot patients stationed in Norway, but can cover other patients if their policy allows it.

• Is travelling to Norway a last resort purchase?
  No! on the contrary. Over the years, medical tourism has evolved into a booming business. There has been a growing tradition for UK residents to travel to Asia, India, Turkey, France and Belgium for treatment. Norway is just a new country for them to visit. Norway has Europe’s lowest MRSA infection rate, no waiting lists, competitive fees and professional and hygienic facilities with the latest in medical technology available.

• How do people make an appointment?
  They contact us either by e-mail, SMS or freephone. We always reply to the patients that have contacted us either the same day or the day after the first contact. We contact them by e-mail or by telephone and if the patient requires detailed information about our procedures/operations, we send them a specified information pack by post.

• How do potential patients find out enough information about the operation before they make the decision to book and travel?
  We have a very informative web site outlining all of our procedures. We have personal contact with patients before deciding what sort of treatment is necessary and before they decide to have treatment at Scanhealth.
  We insist that all patients complete a health declaration form.
  We insist on patients who need an operation taking an MRSA test before they come to Norway.
  Our surgeon insists on seeing all recent x-rays or MRI scans before deciding to book a patient for surgery. If the patients have not taken any scans or x-rays, we can provide these at our radiology department.

• What happens if there’s a complication during surgery?
  We have a minor emergency room and equipment to deal with normal postoperative complications. If you need a transmission to a larger hospital due to major complications such as e.g. heart or lung affection there is a larger county hospital nearby, which is free of charge for British Citizens. Should there be need for a blood transfusion or need for extra nights in our hospital due to minor complications, there will be no extra fee.
  The radiology department often use intravenouse trace dyes or other trace contrasts that some patients may have an allergic reaction to. These contrast dyes are never given to patients with a history of allergies, and are never given to patients without our radiographers being at work. Any patient having a reaction whilst at our clinic, will be taken care of by our in-house doctors who are trained in the use of a defibrilator, which is readily available in our emergency first aid kit.

• If the patient needs to stay longer than anticipated, what happens then?
  The patients stay for as long as is necessary for medical reasons. We are very flexible, and will reschedule plane tickets etc.

• Will the patient be able to go into the NHS system once they’ve had the operation in order to receive aftercare e.g. physio?
  Yes, just as any patient having surgery done.

Most patients won’t need physical treatment after surgery. We will provide them with instructions on how to exercise. We recommend patients who have had ACL, shoulder, and hip and knee replacement to get physical therapy post operative.

• Is the patient just dumped back into the NHS?
  No, if surgery is done, the patient won’t need to go back to the NHS for follow up surgery etc. We will do a complete treatment, and if there are complications we will take care of that ourselves. We are very near the UK, only 90 min. away from London.

• Please talk me through post-operative care.
  Post operative you will be taken care of by and intensive care nurse at our intensive care unit. You will be served food and drink according to tolerance after operation. When you are fit to leave, we will supply you with transportation back to the hotel/ or if you are an inpatient you will be nursed for 4 nights and receive intensive physiotherapy during the stay.
  1 day after discharge from t he hospital we will call you to hear if everything is ok. You will receive a letter 3 to 4 weeks after surgery, where you will be requested to fill out a patient satisfaction and infection questionnaire. This gives patients the chance to report any adverse incidence to us (if they haven’t already done this). Your GP will receive a written medical report in English and you will also receive written instructions on what to do and what not to do after the surgery. Written receipts for post operative medication is needed.

• How are the psychological effects satisfied over a period of time e.g. IVF?
  We are very ware of the psychological effects surrounding IVF treatment. This will not be different for patients from the UK. We give them our time and full attention and will be available for them whenever they need reassurance. We talk about the psychological effects of the IVF treatment process with the patients at the first consultation/meeting.