Express service

To Paul, my only shinning light in a deep dark lonely place! This is a message to all of you in the UK and perhaps beyond, do not settle for 2nd class medical treatment. Do not wait for the “Experts” to get back to you, take your recovery into your own hands. We like to think that the NHS is a jewel in the UK’s crown, we have a fear of other countries medical capabilities no doubt fed by many years of turning up at our local doctors doorstep with the odd minor ailment and getting “seen”. When things get a little more serious my experience has been one of poor diagnosis, lack of care, inability to listen to my concerns and delay upon delay. I do not want to go too much into my journey as everyone’s will be different but the general theme will be the same I am sure. I was diagnosed with two herniated discs leading to sciatica down my right side. Normally for most people it’s a 6-8 week recovery time with exercise. I was 14 months into my pain before I decided I would no longer tolerate the lack of urgency from the NHS. My last three months were spent in considerable pain, unable to stand or walk and practically living on my settee. I lost over 8kg in weight and almost lost my partner because of my personality change. Now this is the bit where I take actions into my own hands. In early October 2008 I decided I would no longer wait, I searched the internet for any organisation that would help me privately. I came across a few in the UK but also organisations promoting operations abroad. I fired off enquiries to all. The next day I had a quotation from Paul at ESE with a most comprehensive explanation of the operation and prices, that quite frankly I could not believe. Naturally being a cautious individual I waited for others to quote which they did over the next 10 days. In the mean time I requested a copy of my MRI from the NHS, yes you can do this and they have to give it to you at a small fee. Looking at some of the UK quotations I would have to re-mortgage the house and I even got to having discussions with my bank about the cost of borrowing. By 22nd October I had received a copy of my MRI scan and sent this by surface mail to two organisations I had short listed, neither of which was UK based. Again Paul and Luc’s ( surgeon ) response was immediate. Yes they could operate, what a relief! By this time my pain was such that I rang the out of hours medical service only to be told they could do nothing for me. I was alone and at the end of my tether. I contacted Paul again and asked for a reference I could speak with that had experience of the hospital and service. I was given Jenny’s name that you will see on his website and after speaking to her all my questions and fears were allayed. I made my decision. Now Paul can you get me in immediately? Bear in mind that by the time Luc had seen my MRI it was around the 27th October, on the 31st October Paul had come back and said they can operate on the 6th November! I only had a few days to get ready, this isn’t right is it? Surely it should takes months not days? I travelled on my own by train, its simple, convenient and everyone was helpful throughout my journey with getting not only myself but also my wheel chair on and off the train and transporting me between stations in London. When I arrived in Brussels Paul was there to meet me and take me to the hospital. I can not praise Paul, Luc or the hospital staff enough for the care and attention lavished on me during my stay. I did not feel as though I was in another country, everyone spoke English, the pre operative and post operative procedures were first class and I can thoroughly recommend ESE and Sint Lucas hospital to all that are searching for a solution such as I. If at anytime you wish to contact me then feel free to email me at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or should you want the reassurance from talking to some one, as I did, then call me on 07841 535141. As a footnote, I finally got to see a NHS consultant on the Friday that Paul came back to me with my operation date. He decided that he would need another MRI scan as mine was 10 months old, this would take another 2 months after which he would try some nerve root injections and should this not work he would operate. He took no account of the desperate and debilitating pain I was in. Oh yes and here’s another little anecdote, The hospital does not have wards it has 2 bed rooms (though you can pay extra for single if you wish), my neighbour was a local Belgium man who had the same condition as I, his intense pain developed at the end of September by the 3rd November he had undergone the operation! Paul, hopefully you will never know how bad life had become for me, I am two weeks from my operation and taking things easy. I can walk; I can stand up to shave and most of all I am the person I was so many months ago. Not only am I so grateful but so is my partner because she has the “Pete” back that she fell in love with. All my very best wishes Pete