Just having read an article from a local paper about a lady refused a doctors prescription, incensed I felt compelled to scribble down my own thoughts.
The lady, who lives in Dublin, is a diabetic, and having run out of insulin she thought it would be a simple procedure to obtain a repeat prescription. She reported to the centre with her E111 and what was left of her medication but was greeted with the casual remark ‘It’s not an emergency.’
Now the Diabetes part of me has empathy for this lady. On foreign soil, lacking vital medication I can see why and how easy it is to get anxious trying to locate supplies at short notice.
The lady was armed with EHIC formerly E111. This entitles residents of EU member countries “Emergency Treatment” with the EU. Note the words “Emergency Treatment”.
Now the staff at the clinic most likely could have helped the lady out a little and would imagine that they probably could have been nicer. Based on my own personal dealings with local Health Centre staff!
However it highlights the problems when you leave home without thinking about where you are going and what may possibly happen. We all, from time to time misplace medication, lose test strips, drop pens and damage needles which places us in a precarious position where we need to replace supplies urgently.
Running out of Insulin on Holiday is her problem and her fault alone. Sorry end of!
She knew where she was going and she knew for how long. She knew that she needed to take Insulin with her and the fact that she did not take enough is certainly not the problem of the health centre.
Fortunately you can walk into pretty much any pharmacy in Spain and purchase some delightful Insulin straight over the counter. Pay full retail, YES! Keep you alive YES!
Quite why it is newsworthy baffles me, as it is only one persons fault. We all make mistakes and I make my fair share of them. Man up and face it!!
I’m also sure that if she purchased some travel insurance she may have been able to claim back the cost of the Insulin.
What ever you do this summer be safe. Pack well and think about what you may need to do or where to go if the proverbial **** hits the fan.
Saludos and Happy Summer!
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