Going public with rotator cuff tear- timing and travel insurance

richy316

Hi,

I've a rotator cuff (supraspinatus) full thickness tear/ poor mobility and surgery is recommended. I'm 30 years old and very active(surfing/gaa). I don't have health insurance in Ireland and want to know how long it will take to see a shoulder specialist going into A&E in Galway and how long of a wait to get the surgery done. I'm on holidays in New Zealand now where the accident happened and want to get the surgery done ASAP provided the Irish specialist agrees.  Any idea of timeline or practicalities would be great?

Would my travel insurance cover me for private surgery in Ireland even though the accident happened abroad?? I don't want to get the surgery done here and then travel home.

Thanks in advance 

Richy

The_Conductor

Thats a bit of a how long is a piece of string question.
Presuming you're entitled to public health care in Ireland (you're not if you haven't been habitually resident in Ireland or another EU state)- depending on how critical the issue is (critical in this instance = life threatening)- you could be waiting months for a meeting with a consultant- and their proposed course of treatment will normally start with steroids and work upwards- surgery would be a last possible option..........

Wesser

You dont go to a and e with a rotator cuff tear!!! Its not an emergency!
No wonder our a and e are all clogged up with people who dont have emergencies!