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Case Studies

Private case of Martin Vaux

Scenario:

Despite taking out travel insurance, our client failed to disclose a pre-existing medical condition, so that when he became seriously ill he found he was on his own. Fortunately Specialty Assist was there to help…

Specialty was contacted by Mrs Sheila Vaux, asking for Specialty’s help. Her husband Martin had been hospitalised, seriously ill in Menorca.

Martin had taken his family on a holiday with a tour company and had taken out the travel insurance with them. Mr Vaux had a liver condition, which he failed to disclose to the insurers, and albeit he knew was virtually uninsurable ‘took a chance’ that he would be well throughout his trip.

The day before he was due home Martin collapsed and was rushed to a private hospital, they soon realised the seriousness of his problem and he was transferred to the State hospital which had better facilities to cope with his condition.

Meanwhile his travel insurers had declined cover on the basis of non disclosure of his pre-existing medical condition.

Mrs Vaux wanted Martin to be transferred to the UK and treated here. The family were willing to pay for a private Air Ambulance.

It was carefully explained we would be only too pleased to assist her but also insisted we would only make arrangements when Specialty’s Medical Director agreed to any repatriations and that it was considered safe to do so.

Specialty’s Doctor discussed the medical condition with the treating doctor and it soon became evident that Martin was extremely poorly (at this stage he was given a 10% chance of survival) and that he would also require a Liver transplant.

The Menorca hospital staff did a fantastic job over the following two weeks in stabilising Martin and after many discussions with the treating doctors; he became well enough to transfer by Air Ambulance to an ICU bed in the UK. Mrs Vaux was updated every day as to progress and all the options and risks were discussed before any plans were put into action.

Careful planning and an admission into a London hospital were arranged and the transfer began to take place. On arrival in Menorca the Air Ambulance team went to the hospital to confirm Martin was still able to travel, once satisfied they proceeded to bring him home.

Martin arrived safely back into Biggin Hill and was transferred by Intensive Care ambulance to St Thomas Hospital. Martin remained critical but stable. Slowly over the next few weeks he improved enough so that he could be transferred to Kings Hospital and underwent a Liver transplant.

Martin faced a long road ahead in his recovery and was still very ill, he had lost a lot of weight and being bed bound so long he was very weak. However he slowly improved day by day and was eventually transferred to a local hospital near his home for rehabilitation.

Today, Martin is home with his family getting better everyday, he visits Kings Hospital every week and has regular visits to his GP. He values life a lot more these days and his outlook on life has changed forever as to what really is important, his family being top of that list.

Martin talks of going on holiday in the future, but tells us he will take out an insurance policy that will cover him for his medical condition. He also advises he will keep our number in his wallet, just in case…

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