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Daryl Carr |
Hi, I would like to take this opportunity to give sincere thanks and gratitude to all of the staff at Scanhealth who I found exceptional. From the minute I decided to proceed with an MRI scan and subsequent ACL reconstruction, everything was so professional and so simple. The flight was short, transfer to the hotel was quick and easy, and the hospital itself even closer. The whole experience completely exceeded my expectations. I found the surgeon, his staff and all of the people that helped me along the way to be in a totally different league. This is definitely the best decision I've ever made and I would encourage anybody considering Scanhealth to look no further and put an end to your injury and NHS nightmare. I would be more than happy to speak to anybody who is considering treatment and answer any questions or concerns. Kind Regards, Daryl Carr, Norfolk, England 20/09/07 |
My husband and I contacted Scanhealth Scandinavia in December 2006 after seeing their site on the internet. We had been trying to conceived for over 3 years and had been told that the waiting list for private treatment within the UK was 2 ½ years minimum. We emailed the clinic our details and received a phonecall the following day and spoke to Jon. We were given all the information we needed and booked an appointment for later that month and flew out to Norway. We were overwhelmed by the sensitivity and support we received in our first appointment and were made to feel very at ease at the clinic. Jon was very honest with us from the start about our infertility problems and helped us plan the next step to achieving our dreams. We returned to the clinic in early February 2007 and underwent IVF ICSI treatment. I was very nervous about the whole procedure and Jon and Elise could not have put me more at ease throughout each step of the way. The rapport we built made all the difference in making us both feel relaxed and positive about our treatment. I am now 4 months pregnant with twins and cannot thank the IVF & Fertility Center at Scanhealth and its staff enough for their help and support and professionalism in making our dream come true. I would wholeheartedly recommend the clinic to anyone considering IVF treatment. The clinic itself provides a clean and modern yet comfortable and inviting atmosphere and the staff are second to none. A first class clinic with first class results for us.
Kind regards.
23/05/07
Dear all at Scanhealth,
At last a rather overdue note to thank you all for the superb treatment I had at your hospital in Norway when I came in January for a total knee replacement.
From the moment I walked into the hospital with its shining wooden floors and welcoming reception area, and met with Mr Rossebo, I knew that I was in good hands. I had gone privately to see a consultant in the UK but he had not examined my knee joint with anything like the same thoroughness as Mr Rossebo.
The surgery itself was painless. I had been very nervous at the prospect of spinal anaesthesia but the sedation made me very sleepy and I was largely unaware of what was going on. Everyone seemed so professional and the place was so spotless that it was a relief to have no worries regarding possible infection.
Following my operation, I cannot speak highly enough of the care I received from the nursing staff. They were so kind and cheerful and went out of their way to see that I was as comfortable as possible and wanted for nothing. Nigel and I returned home impressed by how friendly and hospitable the Norwegian people are.
The food was superb. Sadly, my lack of appetite post-surgery meant that I was unable to fully appreciate it, but Nigel certainly did! I was also very impressed by the physiotherapy facilities, and although the sessions were often very uncomfortable, Cathrine, the physioterroist’s, cheerful and enthusiastic nature was the inspiration I needed to succeed in bending my knee joint further, and further, to the required 90 degrees.
The whole experience was great, and although it is a longish road to full recovery, I am now free of the agonising pain which was keeping me awake most nights before my knee surgery. If I had the choice to make again, of going abroad for orthopaedic surgery, I would choose Scanhealth. You are a wonderful team of people and I wish you all the very best for the future!
Fiona Dods, 12/3/07
Keyworth, Nottinghamshire.
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I first became aware of the existence of Scanhealth when searching the Internet for the possibility of having private surgery outside the UK.
From the outset I was very impressed with the way in which the staff dealt with my initial contact. I received a comprehensive information pack and any queries were answered fully and professionally either by telephone or e-mail. It was also reassuring to be able to contact Dr. Hans Jacob Rossebo direct, to discuss my operation.
I was very pleased with the arrangements for flights, hotels and transport. The hotel accommodation was excellent and within easy walking distance of the hospital.
All the medical tests and treatment were carried out promptly and efficiently in modern, well equipped conditions, and the nursing staff were extremely kind and considerate. I could not have asked for better treatment and felt confident that I was in good hands.
I would not hesitate to recommend Scanhealth to anyone considering having private surgery abroad.
T.M.Birch
N. Wales U.K.
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“There is approx. Three to four weeks waiting just to see a consultant for a dislocated knee on the NHS??
I called Scanhealth on Thursday, flew to Haugesund on Sunday, had my MRI and X-ray on the Monday. I also had a consultation with an orthopaedic surgeon on the Monday and could have had an operation the same day, but luckily for me I didn’t need one.
I was given very good advice on how to look after my knee and I can now drive and live life again!!
Scanhealth are what the NHS and UK private medicine should be.
There were no problems with the language, or indeed any other problems
I highly recommend Scanhealth!
Tony Legge, Company MD”
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TONY JOINS THE TREND IN TOURIST HEALTH CARE
Derby Telegraph 09:30 - 26 February 2007
With the NHS battling waiting lists and shocking MRSA superbug figures, people are looking beyond Britain to find healthcare. A quick internet search was all it took when Tony Legge needed to sort out a leg injury. He found the treatment he required with a click of the mouse, courtesy of a new offering, the medical mini-break. It just meant catching a plane to Norway.
Jill Gallone reports.
When Tony Legge had an accident while on a skiing holiday in France it led to more tourism.
He joined an increasing number of British "medical" tourists who are taking their health problems offshore.
European countries that are dealing more successfully with the superbug MRSA are enticing the tourists - countries such as Norway.
Along with the Netherlands, Norway has the lowest level of MRSA infection in Europe.
It offers medical mini-breaks to those who want an alternative to NHS treatment and waiting lists.
Last year 50,000 people left Britain to get medical treatment abroad, according to Scanhealth Scandinavia, based in Norway - a private company developing "medical tourism".
It offers tests and treatments from MRI scans and knee surgery to eye laser surgery and IVF, with travel and accommodation thrown in.
Tony found its website at the click of the mouse.
He said that Norway had one of the lowest levels of MRSA in Europe while the UK had one of the highest . About 5,000 people a year die here from infections picked up in hospital, including MRSA.
"That's much more than the number killed on the roads. That is shocking and I think more people should be concerned about it.
"I didn't know if I needed surgery at this stage but I knew I didn't fancy being cut open at an NHS hospital."
Tony, of Church Street, Netherseal, hit problems on a skiing holiday to France in January. A freak incident left him in agony.
"I was just walking outside the apartment and my knee suddenly slipped sideways and gave way. I heard a crack. I thought I had broken my leg, it was so painful."
He was taken to a French hospital.
"They did an X-ray and I found out that I had dislocated my knee. For the journey home they gave me a long brace locked by Velcro costing 57 Euros.
”All medicines in France are marked with costs to stop people wasting them but they did not charge me.
"It's something they should think about doing over here."
"When I got home I went to my GP who said he could arrange for me to see a consultant but there was a four-week wait.
"That wasn't quick enough for me. I wasn't sure how bad the damage to my right knee was or whether I needed an operation. It's also critical for me to be able to drive."
Tony is the managing director of an internet business with offices in New Covent Garden.It means he often has to travel between home at Netherseal and London.
He said: "I made an appointment at Burton Clinic, a private clinic based at the town's Queen's Hospital site.
"They were quite good but said I needed to have an MRI scan at a cost of £600."
Tony thought that seemed expensive and was concerned about MRSA levels in the UK if he needed an operation. So he turned to the internet.
"I came across Scanhealth. They offered me flights to Norway, two nights accommodation, the MRI scan and two X-rays for £490 with the results on a CD," he said.
"I called Scanhealth on a Thursday, flew to Haugesund the following Sunday and had my MRI and X-ray on the Monday. I also had a consultation with a surgeon on the Monday and could have had an operation the same day.
"There were no waiting lists and no problems with the language. The treatment I received was excellent and really opened my eyes.
"The clinic in Norway was on a par with any private clinic in England but the costs were much lower.
"For example, in Norway it's £50 to see a consultant compared to £140 over here.
"If I had needed a tendon- replacement op it would have cost £1,200. Over here they start at £3,000. It was also a chance to spend a bit of time in Norway and see the country."
jgallone@derbytelegraph.co.uk
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'I asked my GP what he'd do and he said he'd go to Norway'
Valerie Adams
Gilwern, Abergavenny
Nov 27 2006
Madeleine Brindley, Western Mail
A WOMAN has spoken about why she opted for an MRI scan in Scandinavia rather than waiting for one in Wales.
Valerie Adams, an adult education tutor, was the first British patient to be seen at the specialist Norwegian orthopaedic clinic earlier this month.
The 55-year-old, who lives near Abergavenny, travelled the 715 miles for a contrasting MRI scan after being told she faced an 18-month wait for the same diagnostic procedure on the NHS in Wales.
The Norwegian Scanhealth clinic also pledged to perform any operative work, if needed, to her damaged shoulder on the same day, although the MRI scan ultimately showed that non-surgical treatment was needed.
The diagnostic tests, including the cost of flying to Norway and two nights' accommodation, was £500, compared with the £325 price tag for an MRI scan done privately in Wales.
Mrs Adams, who has three children, said, "I'm sorry that the problem couldn't be corrected quickly but I feel as though I have had a very thorough examination and what feels like an accurate diagnosis. It was worth it.
"You hear of people travelling to Turkey or India for treatment where they are huge differences, but going to Norway didn't feel like a huge difference - it was almost like going to another town in the UK. The worst part of it all was the journey to and from Stansted Airport."
Mrs Adams started suffering pains in her shoulder 18 months ago. She was initially referred for physiotherapy, which gave her back some mobility but did nothing to ease the pain.
She later had an X-ray at Nevill Hall Hospital, in Abergavenny, which suggested possible damage to the shoulder, and her GP referred her to see a consultant.
Mrs Adams faced an 18-month wait for an MRI scan and decided to pay for one to be done privately in Wales, which proved inconclusive.
She said, "I spoke to a consultant radiologist I know who said that I probably needed a contrast MRI where dye is injected before the scan is done.
"I asked for the referral but heard nothing, then it was suggested that I had an MRI scan on my neck, but I felt I couldn't afford another £325 on the off chance that the problem could be my neck, even though there was no reason to think so."
As the pain in her shoulder increased Mrs Adams was sleeping no more than three or fours a night, while still working full-time.
It was then she started to research medical treatment abroad and discovered Scanhealth, in Norway, and another clinic in France.
She emailed both and within a day had heard back from Scanhealth. The surgeon told her that they could do the contrast MRI and would carry out any necessary surgery the same day.
Mrs Adams said, "I spoke to my GP about it and asked him what he would do and he said he'd go to Norway. So I went."
The MRI scan revealed the problem but the Norwegian clinicians advised her that an operation was not the best solution and have instead prescribed her a regime of anti-inflammatories, painkillers and rest.
She was also given a CD-rom containing the results of the scan and her notes, which can be passed on to her GP in Wales.
Mrs Adams said, "When I saw how well organised they were - you get the results the same day and any treatment needed promptly afterwards - it seemed so much more efficient and cost-effective than writing endless letters.
"But I do feel rather sad that I had to go to Norway - we once had what was one of the best health services in the world, and now it seems to be crumbling."
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I'm just writing to say thank you so much for the very warm welcome you gave us last week when we came to Haugesund for my MRI scan. We were extremely impressed with the excellent treatment and pleasant atmosphere of your clinic plus everyone was so
helpful, polite and cheerful!
The results have been most useful in identifying the precise nature of my condition and as a result of this my GP has referred me to a specialist. We shall certainly be telling everyone we know about Scanhealth and the valuable and efficient service you are
providing for people.
It was nice to have time also to take in some off the lovely Norwegian scenery whilst we were there so your friendly taxi service was greatly appreciated Jane and made the visit so much easier and more enjoyable, we liked it there so much we may come back again in the
summer for the music festival!
Many thanks again for your help.
Very best wishes
Julie and David
Upper Farringdon, Alton
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I went to ScanHealth in Norway for an MRI & ultrasound scan in December 2006.
It was a fraction of the cost I would have had to pay in England. The doctors &
staff were friendly, professional & I was treated as an equal. I was looked
after during my stay in Norway & received a deluxe service all the way through
from landing at the airport to checking in on departure. We even managed a spot
of sightseeing & found the countryside very beautiful, the people friendly &
helpful with English widely spoken. I can highly recommend ScanHealth to
anybody who wants a very good alternative to etremely expensive private care in
England.
Kind regards from Sarah
Sarah E
Layer de la Haye in Colchester
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Our IVF baby hope
By Sally Clifford, Telegraph & Argus 2. Mars 2007
As Leanne Bibby and Andrew Hardaker's relationship blossomed, their thoughts turned to having a baby.
Both had children from previous relationships, but Leanne was unable to conceive due to polycystic ovaries.
But now the Norwegian clinic they found through the internet is giving them hope of having a child of their own.
The couple have been together since meeting in a nightclub two years ago. Andrew has two children from a previous relationship. Sadly, Leanne's 11-month-old daughter, Chloe, also from a previous relationship, died nearly three years ago from a rare muscle wasting disease, spinal muscular atrophy.
Two large photographs, one of Andrew and his children, the other of Leanne and her precious Chloe, adorn their living room wall. The couple indicate the space in between is where, one day, they hope to put the photograph of them with their baby.
For now it's a dream they hope will soon become a reality. So far conception has proved difficult as Leanne suffers from polycystic ovaries, a condition associated with multiple cysts in the ovaries often preventing ovulation.
She tells how she was on treatment for the condition before conceiving Chloe but despite receiving treatment to conceive her second child through Airedale General Hospital in her home town of Keighley, attempts have so far failed. Leanne believes the problem is compounded by the stress she's suffered since the devastating loss of her daughter.
"After all the stress your body can react in different ways and I think it's probably caused more problems," says the 26-year-old.
IVF is their only alternative but because Leanne has previously had a child the couple can't have free treatment on the NHS. All the private clinics they checked out in the UK have a six-month waiting list prompting them to widen the net.
They keyed Fast Track Fertility' into an internet search engine and discovered the world was their oyster.
They chose Scanhealth Scandinavia, a partnership between three health care providers Privatsykehuset Haugesund (a private hospital) Haugesund Rontgen Institutt (a private radiology centre located nearby) and Klinikk Hausken (a private infertility centre also located nearby).
Klinikk Hausken, where the couple are undergoing fertility treatment, was set up a year ago. It is the only private clinic on the West coast of Norway serving a population of about one million.
The couple tell me they chose it as it was one of the first clinics they came to on the list. Were they cautious? "We thought it's a risk we'd take," says Andrew. Leanne says she trusted Andrew's instincts.
Within 24 hours of their initial email inquiry the couple received a response. Six days later they flew out for their consultation and came away with the medication they needed. Six weeks later they flew out for their first attempt and, being the first British couple to undergo treatment at the clinic, made headlines in the Norwegian newspaper!
"We'd still be waiting for our first attempt in the UK," says Andrew.
"It is quicker and everybody speaks English so there's no language barrier."
Unfortunately their first attempt failed but next month they're due to return and this time they're confident of success. Ironically they return home on March 18 - Mother's Day and the third anniversary of Chloe's death.
While aware IVF can result in a multiple birth, Leanne is already a twin and would be delighted to have a double delivery but, for now, she's content with having one child. "After Chloe I've been desperate to have a baby but I didn't think it would be this hard," she says.
Andrew, who is juggling jobs as a gardener and debt collector, has vowed to continue whatever the cost. The couple also made a healthy profit on homes they sold before moving in together.
Their first attempt cost £3,000, including flights and accommodation, slightly cheaper than the £3,500 to £4,000 they say they would pay for private treatment on home soil.
Says Leanne: "We're going to try until we get a success. Every time you go the chances are higher and because I'm young there is a higher chance of it working."
Their experience so far has been positive and they're hoping the result will be soon.
"It is difficult because you really want it to work. There are a lot of different treatments but fingers crossed it will be worth it," they say.
Jon Hausken, Director of the Fertility clinic in Norway, explains IVF treatment is a standard procedure for couples with fertility problems in their country.
"We do about 5500 cycles per year and three per cent of all children born are a result of this activity," he says.
"Leanne and Andrew were one of the first couples from the UK who sent us an email and they were the first to come over for consultation."
Can he foresee a boom in so-called medical tourism to places such as the IVF clinic? "Couples come here for treatment because they do not feel they are getting help in the UK. If they can have a nice stay in Norway during their treatment, why not?"
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