Been extremely ill. Been in hospital for 4 days now

Glad you're on the mend and thanks for relaying your experience. It certainly is different. I know the French system as we lived there but it's totally original here!

I think the speed you were seen and the way you have been treated is pretty remarkable for what is, overall, a poor country.

Speedy recovery!

Well, that’s because you are lucky enough to be treated in Varna!!  That is way outside the norm by Bulgarian standards.  After being tortured, humiliated and had been stripped of all dignity when I had to go to hospital, I have left strict instructions that under no circumstances no matter what the situation, I must never be taken to hospital over here again.

The experience was so traumatising, it left me feeling utterly depressed for months.

@Snowball6

Well that's an interesting view, because my wife, who had lived in Varna most of her life and who is a doctor herself, is pretty critical of system in Varna.

That said, she has a lot of positive words for how we've been treated this time in St. Marina.

My own view is, that it depends what condition you have and who you know, because you don't have to be treated in your own city in Bulgaria, you can be advised to go to a specific hospital or clinic by your consultant and it may be elsewhere, it might be public or private. In 2023, I got treated in Burgas, in the Heart and Brain Hospital, privately - it cost me for the bed (25 Leva per night). The entire hospital was spotlessly clean, fully equipped, equal or above UK hospitals.

Yes, I agree, Bulgaria has some poor standard medical facilities, even in Varna, but it's not what you know, it's who you know. Ask Gwyn his opinion.

You don’t have much choice where you go or who you know when you are lying in a field with a shattered pelvis having been trampled over by a horse.  Basic standards should be applied no matter what.  Treating someone less than human is unacceptable. 

@Snowball6

It's fairly standard Balkan medical treatment, I'm afraid - it's not just confined to Bulgaria.

As I've mentioned in previous posts, I've seen some pretty awful things in all the years I've lived here, including in "top" private hospitals. My wife and I are seriously considering moving to Ireland when she retires, even with their somewhat problematic medical system..

@cyberescue1

What an ordeal! I am so glad you got good, life-saving medical support and that you're on the mend now. I've heard good things about St Marina's from someone else, too, a British woman with multiple health problems who divides her time between the UK and Bulgaria. She was scathing about NHS care in comparison.

On the other hand, unfortunately experiences like @Snowball6's nightmare time in her local Bulgarian hospital are probably not uncommon, either, especially in smaller towns or cities.

@janemulberry

I'm very lucky, jane, married to my wife who is a GP and knows many people in the Varna medical world, many she met whilst training.

It was a shock to say the least, as it was so sudden and the time it took from arriving at A&E, getting diagnosed and treated, was overwhelmingly fast.

One of the reasons we've decided to stay in Varna, is because we have a lot of health issues and access to care here, whether public or private, is easy and there's plenty of choice. I realise many don't want to live in cities, but for me, I have to be realistic, we need to be very close to medical help. St. Marina is just 5 mins by taxi and we can get a taxi to our address in, not more than, 4 mins.

I think if fate had been different for me in Bulgaria and I'd moved to another area, I'd probably be doing was Gwn does - make use of Tokuda and City Clinic in Sofia.

I've used other hospitals, including the City Clinic in Varna, The Military Hospital in Varna and The Heart and Brain Hospital in Burgas.  My wife says Dobrich Hospital, near you, is generally good.

@cyberescue1

As others have said, congrats on the prompt treatment.

I'd add that these are the kinds of emergencies that make health insurance vital. You can pay out of pocket for treatment as needed, but this is not recommended, even if Bulgaria's healthcare is fairly inexpensive (as opposed to a bankruptcy threatening emergency in the USA, say). I highly recommend that everyone gets covered in the Bulgarian public health system (via an S1 for some lucky pensioners, or NHIF contributions) and/or a proper private medical insurance policy. I pay NHIF voluntary contributions (as unemployed/economically inactive) and it's 30 euros a month.

Further, I'd add that most/many private hospitals are affiliated with NHIF and partially reimbursed by it. These will happily upgrade you to a private room and other VIP options for a surprisingly small private surcharge. (I'd guess even the public hospitals will do this if they know you're happy to pay, and aren't insisting on the free only route.)

I know some folks have scare stories about Bulgarian healthcare and hospitals, but that's not been my experience in the 9 years I've been here. I have used my local public hospital (St. George in Plovdiv) and it's perfectly fine, but, like many public hospitals it can be extremely crowded with big waits. The private hospital option was entirely unexpected and I've used several private hospitals in Sofia and Plovdiv with very relaxing experiences. (You can go private in the UK too, of course, but then you'll pay full price, the NHS won't contribute.) I also have my Bulgarian EHIC so I'm covered when in the rest of the EU (very useful as I have legal residence in Cyprus and Spain, and often stay there).

However, I'd note that all/most public hospitals have a 24 hrs emergency room, whereas the private hospitals might not, so it pays to know what your local options are. e.g. in Plovdiv, I know that I've got St. George (public) and Pulmed (private) right next door, and Kaspela and Medline (both private) a short drive away. St. George I know will see me, but the emergency room usually has a wait of several hours, unless I'm dying. Pulmed is great, but it's the most expensive, and they won't accept NHIF for emergency treatment (electives, yes). Medline is very good, and it accepts NHIF even for emergencies... and my GP is based is here. So it's my default option. However, I know the emergency room is only open during normal day hours, so I'd never go here in the middle of the night. For specialist consultations, scans, and elective surgeries, my first choice is always one of the private hospitals, it's just far quicker and easier.

I suspect having a wife with medical connections helps!

We're very blessed that the nearest town has a (mostly closed) hospital providing outpatient care only, but there's a 24/7 emergency clinic. The one time I needed to use it no one else was waiting, so I was seen immediately. It's basic, but they could certainly stabilise someone in an emergency and arrange one of the two ambulances stationed there to transport the patient to Dobrich.

Our neighbors speak very highly of the Dobrich hospital and say it's far better than in the Varna hospital the husband, who needed major surgery twice because the first op failed, was originally treated in.

Be careful about "private rooms"; I had my total knee replacement operation on one of the chain of new Vita Group hospitals - very clean and modern. I had a "private room" (chargeable, of course) but it was only private until it wasn't; ie until they had a patient who needed a bed in "my" two-bed room. They have no single-bed rooms as they're not cost-effective..

@cyberescue1

The Expat.com team and myself are wishing you a speedy recovery

(and thanks for sharing your testimony)