I enjoy your motorcycle videos which originally brought me to your channel but also enjoy your social / lifestyle videos re living in Bulgaria, hope you can fit a bit more of this content in. I think you and Sue make a great team . Hoping you and Sue stay healthy and many more bike trip videos to come next summer.
Good advice for expat residents. Glad your CT scans didn't show anything too serious. We need you around to keep us entertained. Stay safe and healthy. BJ
Sue is an absolute champion! A star of your good self Ian! That is absolutely correct about being polite in a foreign country, no matter whether you live there or not. Take care Ian! You have too many bikes to ride for summer!
@@iantoy7778 I totally agree with Steve, politeness doesn't cost a penny but the returns are worth a million. I hope you recover well Ian. I know difficult times. Due to collapsing a few of times last year while unloading trailers (I was a HGV Driver for Tesco) I'am now been placed into a shop/store, this is due to a Hiatal Hernia. basically if I pulled the Hernia I cannot breath as it compress my air intake to nill. While at the store a month ago I lifted a 4ltr bottle of water this was enough for the Hernia to trigger, luckily there where a ambulance crew in store but they were unable to take myself to hospital due to a 2 hour waiting time to take me to Derby Royal Hospital which was 2 miles away! The only thing is I whisked I lived in a area where a couple of pounds paid for the care you receive over the so could NHS, which both the (UK) Conservative & Labour parties have tried to kill in order to make a profit over illness 🤬
Thank you Ian it’s utterly amazing to me that a country historically regarded by us here as backward is so far ahead of the now UK Shit Hole….we are pretty screwed here pal
Yes, i think we are programmed to believe WE are the best at everything. We ain't. I've had cancer 3 times. First time i was in the military and was sent to a pioneering clinic in the military hospital at Halton... they definitely saved my life. Lived in Germany for 40 years. Been in every hospital in a 50 mile radius. The care has been outstanding. Some events i would never have been seen in time in UK. I think you have to have an open mind where ever you are. Alway thinking of you Ian
For a small contribution you get full health care then. Wishing you both all the best for the future and hope they can continue keeping you fit to ride and vlog. 🤗
Bulgaria has got its ptoblems in healthcare. In the 21 st century we dont have helicopters. Only one. Until now, if a person had to be transported from Varna to Sofia, they'd usually ask for the governmental helicopter or airplane. Money is what we lack. Doctors are highly qualified and reliable. Work really hard. So, food is really the smallest problem. ❤
I've read mixed reviews of others but the common factor is not having to wait. I myself had an operation in 2011, it was in the Tokuda hospital in Sofia. I paid into the NHIF so just had to pay for my private room for 3 nights about £100 including pretty ok food. The surgeon spoke English, the OR and my room were spotless, and the surgeon wore a Union Jack headwear 'specially for me' and there was lovely classical music playing. Mine was a cancer scare, but the same day of the op I was told straight away it was a benign tumour, so no worrying wait time. I couldn't fault the system/service one bit. Like you said, you keep all your paperwork, xrays, CT scans etc.
It's got to be better than UK. The reason they sent me for the CT scan was they thought it might be cancer but thankfully it was not . I was thinking it might be and it good they acted so quickly because it plays on your mind not knowing.
@@iantoy7778 we agree with you, as we have other experiences for us both, and all positive. We'd rather get seen asap, and the other thing is it seems that the symptoms are investigated to get to the cause of an issue rather than giving you a pill to mask the issue.
Thanks for an excellent video. I can "retire" at age 60 in just over a year with a small occupational pension (circa £500/m) and Bulgaria could be an option. I think I could probably satisfy the financial requirements with the small pension plus savings before I get another pension at 65 & then the UK state pension at 67. My Dad lived in an ex-pat enclave in Spain for quite some time, your comments about, shall we say, ex-pats with unrealistic expectations, reminded me of some of the people there. All the best to you both...
Once you get past the D visa problem and get into the life here,you will wish you could have done it sooner. Keep away from the coast as it can be as expensive as living in UK. A lot of the villages that expats congrate to can be expensive as they over charge for the houses. Spend time picking your area to live , don't live in the middle of nowhere. Don't listen to people to much on the forums about there village because they will never tell you the truth about there village. It's always the best place to live. Get it right and enjoy life with no stress.😊
Thank you for everything! I live in Romania and I am always curious how different states solved similar problems. Romania has a bit more money, has inherited problems but, I reckon, we are at comparable levels in healthcare.
Like just about everything else in BG, a lot depends on which area you are in and the luck of the draw. I pay into the BG NHIF. Worst 10 days of my life in a hospital in Varna, but I survived. No food for 10 days, only two tea bags on day 6 on a plastic picnic plate as I hadn't brought my own cup, I was admitted as an emergency case, funnily enough after a stent test, no stent needed. I was on 13 tablets a day, once they got them sorted, as it was 2 seperate departments, I have now found a private cardiologist and he was staggered at the tablets I was on and changed them, now on 2 1/2 tablets a day for the last 3 years. The original 13 tablets all came from one company which surprise, surprise, operate the cardio department in that hospital for the Bulgarian health service. I agree about waiting times though, albiet that same hospital sent me home to get my NHIF payments up to date even though I had suffered a mild heart attack. I am halfway between Burgas and Varna on the coast.
I have heard some bad reports about certain hospitals. I can only speak from my own personal experience on the hospitals I have been in which I have been very satisfied with.
@@iantoy7778 I understand that. I can only comment on the ones I have been in. It really is '' luck of the draw'' and very area specific for just about every aspect of life here in BG. Sometimes comes down to who is behind the counter at any specific hour on any given day in any given week.
Standard response with our GP now is if you want to make an appointment, then you'll be waiting 14 days minimum. This has been the situation for several years now. It's crap! Great Britain? What's great about it?!
Great video mate, as you know I’ve been through the system as well. Agree totally with good practise, rooms food etc. I’m afraid where I disagree slightly is that they’ll get an English speaker to assist. I find it’s pot luck. Only slight down size for me. No complaints about the Health system here.
Hi guys, that’s great information about the medical scheme and your right about the uk private costs, I’ve recently paid as a private patient at my local NHS hospital after my eye surgery was cancelled, it cost me £7500 so Bulgarian medical scheme is a brilliant choice 👍😎
Thanks that was really interesting and informative. Glad you're ok Ian. Are you able to link to the details where you have all your healthcare records you showed on your phone please Sue?
You need to download the eZdrave app onto your phone. After that you have to go to your local Health Fund office. They will log you in. It literally takes 5 minutes. All you need is the app downloaded on your phone and your BG Identity card. If you look on the website www.his.bg you will find the info. You can google translate to English.
Thanks for putting in the time for this video. I recently relocated to Bulgaria from another EU country and was not entirely sure what to expect from the Bulgarian health system. That being said I have lost confidence in my birth countrys health system, even though it is nice and shiny on the surface.
Well mate as you know, I went into Varna hospital and nearly died. Got an infection from the operating theater. Don't get me wrong they saved my life and the doctors were second to none and after 6 operations I was back together . However on the ward, they expected me to die, so i was mistreated and ignored. Your hospital sounds fab. Agree with most of what you said but hospital treatment is hit and miss. In the end as you know i was evacuated back to the UK to save my life and my legs. Ref Ambulance transport . We called the ambulance and were told they would not take me because they cover Shumen and I was under Varna. So we had to get an estate car and get me in the back or pay 600 Lev for a 30 minute journey. On the plus side I got skin cancer sorted there within a week and could not fault that. Must catch up soon for a coffee.
You was in a bad way after your accident before you got to hospital mate. Think they more or less brought you back from the dead you was nearly dog meat ,so I think you had a lot going on all at once. Good to see you back on your feet again.
@iantoy7778 yes, they did well to put me back together. However the multiple infections were a direct result of systematic poor hygiene in the operating theater. Not knocking the surgeons at all. It's the system of corruption that caused my other issues, Bone marrow infection, sepsis and getting a super bug was easy to prevent with antibiotic medication. The hospital had no medicine because it was broke. Like I said you was very fortunate to have a nice hospital. Not all the same ..
![Seungmin "그렇게, 천천히, 우리(As we are)" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/kAzmhLHePqU/mqdefault.jpg)
I enjoy your motorcycle videos which originally brought me to your channel but also enjoy your social / lifestyle videos re living in Bulgaria, hope you can fit a bit more of this content in. I think you and Sue make a great team . Hoping you and Sue stay healthy and many more bike trip videos to come next summer.
Happy that everything is working out for you Ian. All th very best
Thanks 👍
Good advice for expat residents. Glad your CT scans didn't show anything too serious. We need you around to keep us entertained. Stay safe and healthy.
BJ
Sue is an absolute champion! A star of your good self Ian!
That is absolutely correct about being polite in a foreign country, no matter whether you live there or not.
Take care Ian! You have too many bikes to ride for summer!
Thanks Steve
@@iantoy7778 I totally agree with Steve, politeness doesn't cost a penny but the returns are worth a million. I hope you recover well Ian. I know difficult times. Due to collapsing a few of times last year while unloading trailers (I was a HGV Driver for Tesco) I'am now been placed into a shop/store, this is due to a Hiatal Hernia. basically if I pulled the Hernia I cannot breath as it compress my air intake to nill. While at the store a month ago I lifted a 4ltr bottle of water this was enough for the Hernia to trigger, luckily there where a ambulance crew in store but they were unable to take myself to hospital due to a 2 hour waiting time to take me to Derby Royal Hospital which was 2 miles away! The only thing is I whisked I lived in a area where a couple of pounds paid for the care you receive over the so could NHS, which both the (UK) Conservative & Labour parties have tried to kill in order to make a profit over illness 🤬
Unfortunately we hear so many stories like this about the UK. Hope you get on OK. Ian certainly wouldn't be here if we had stayed in the UK.
Thank you Ian it’s utterly amazing to me that a country historically regarded by us here as backward is so far ahead of the now UK Shit Hole….we are pretty screwed here pal
That's why we moved away. Better quality of life for us here
Yes, i think we are programmed to believe WE are the best at everything. We ain't.
I've had cancer 3 times. First time i was in the military and was sent to a pioneering clinic in the military hospital at Halton... they definitely saved my life.
Lived in Germany for 40 years. Been in every hospital in a 50 mile radius. The care has been outstanding. Some events i would never have been seen in time in UK.
I think you have to have an open mind where ever you are.
Alway thinking of you Ian
Thanks
For a small contribution you get full health care then. Wishing you both all the best for the future and hope they can continue keeping you fit to ride and vlog. 🤗
Will try to keep riding while I can
Excellent video thanks Ian and Sue 👍👏👏👏
Thanks 👍
Bulgaria has got its ptoblems in healthcare. In the 21 st century we dont have helicopters. Only one. Until now, if a person had to be transported from Varna to Sofia, they'd usually ask for the governmental helicopter or airplane. Money is what we lack. Doctors are highly qualified and reliable. Work really hard. So, food is really the smallest problem. ❤
I've read mixed reviews of others but the common factor is not having to wait. I myself had an operation in 2011, it was in the Tokuda hospital in Sofia. I paid into the NHIF so just had to pay for my private room for 3 nights about £100 including pretty ok food. The surgeon spoke English, the OR and my room were spotless, and the surgeon wore a Union Jack headwear 'specially for me' and there was lovely classical music playing. Mine was a cancer scare, but the same day of the op I was told straight away it was a benign tumour, so no worrying wait time. I couldn't fault the system/service one bit. Like you said, you keep all your paperwork, xrays, CT scans etc.
It's got to be better than UK. The reason they sent me for the CT scan was they thought it might be cancer but thankfully it was not . I was thinking it might be and it good they acted so quickly because it plays on your mind not knowing.
@@iantoy7778 we agree with you, as we have other experiences for us both, and all positive. We'd rather get seen asap, and the other thing is it seems that the symptoms are investigated to get to the cause of an issue rather than giving you a pill to mask the issue.
Totally agree. As you say they don't stop investigating until they find the cause of any issue.
Great information
Definitely do some more
Thanks for an excellent video. I can "retire" at age 60 in just over a year with a small occupational pension (circa £500/m) and Bulgaria could be an option. I think I could probably satisfy the financial requirements with the small pension plus savings before I get another pension at 65 & then the UK state pension at 67. My Dad lived in an ex-pat enclave in Spain for quite some time, your comments about, shall we say, ex-pats with unrealistic expectations, reminded me of some of the people there. All the best to you both...
Once you get past the D visa problem and get into the life here,you will wish you could have done it sooner. Keep away from the coast as it can be as expensive as living in UK. A lot of the villages that expats congrate to can be expensive as they over charge for the houses. Spend time picking your area to live , don't live in the middle of nowhere. Don't listen to people to much on the forums about there village because they will never tell you the truth about there village. It's always the best place to live. Get it right and enjoy life with no stress.😊
@@iantoy7778 Good advice thanks Ian
Thank you for everything!
I live in Romania and I am always curious how different states solved similar problems. Romania has a bit more money, has inherited problems but, I reckon, we are at comparable levels in healthcare.
Like just about everything else in BG, a lot depends on which area you are in and the luck of the draw. I pay into the BG NHIF. Worst 10 days of my life in a hospital in Varna, but I survived. No food for 10 days, only two tea bags on day 6 on a plastic picnic plate as I hadn't brought my own cup, I was admitted as an emergency case, funnily enough after a stent test, no stent needed. I was on 13 tablets a day, once they got them sorted, as it was 2 seperate departments, I have now found a private cardiologist and he was staggered at the tablets I was on and changed them, now on 2 1/2 tablets a day for the last 3 years. The original 13 tablets all came from one company which surprise, surprise, operate the cardio department in that hospital for the Bulgarian health service. I agree about waiting times though, albiet that same hospital sent me home to get my NHIF payments up to date even though I had suffered a mild heart attack. I am halfway between Burgas and Varna on the coast.
I have heard some bad reports about certain hospitals. I can only speak from my own personal experience on the hospitals I have been in which I have been very satisfied with.
@@iantoy7778 I understand that. I can only comment on the ones I have been in. It really is '' luck of the draw'' and very area specific for just about every aspect of life here in BG. Sometimes comes down to who is behind the counter at any specific hour on any given day in any given week.
Standard response with our GP now is if you want to make an appointment, then you'll be waiting 14 days minimum. This has been the situation for several years now. It's crap! Great Britain? What's great about it?!
No good to me that, I really don't think I would be here typing this if I was still in the UK.
Great video mate, as you know I’ve been through the system as well. Agree totally with good practise, rooms food etc. I’m afraid where I disagree slightly is that they’ll get an English speaker to assist. I find it’s pot luck. Only slight down size for me. No complaints about the Health system here.
Hi guys, that’s great information about the medical scheme and your right about the uk private costs, I’ve recently paid as a private patient at my local NHS hospital after my eye surgery was cancelled, it cost me £7500 so Bulgarian medical scheme is a brilliant choice 👍😎
I think in the UK that's the way it will be in the future,a bit like USA
Thanks that was really interesting and informative. Glad you're ok Ian.
Are you able to link to the details where you have all your healthcare records you showed on your phone please Sue?
You need to download the eZdrave app onto your phone. After that you have to go to your local Health Fund office. They will log you in. It literally takes 5 minutes. All you need is the app downloaded on your phone and your BG Identity card.
If you look on the website www.his.bg you will find the info. You can google translate to English.
@@iantoy7778 Thank you so much for this information - appreciate it.
Thanks for putting in the time for this video. I recently relocated to Bulgaria from another EU country and was not entirely sure what to expect from the Bulgarian health system. That being said I have lost confidence in my birth countrys health system, even though it is nice and shiny on the surface.
Well mate as you know, I went into Varna hospital and nearly died. Got an infection from the operating theater. Don't get me wrong they saved my life and the doctors were second to none and after 6 operations I was back together . However on the ward, they expected me to die, so i was mistreated and ignored. Your hospital sounds fab.
Agree with most of what you said but hospital treatment is hit and miss. In the end as you know i was evacuated back to the UK to save my life and my legs.
Ref Ambulance transport . We called the ambulance and were told they would not take me because they cover Shumen and I was under Varna. So we had to get an estate car and get me in the back or pay 600 Lev for a 30 minute journey.
On the plus side I got skin cancer sorted there within a week and could not fault that.
Must catch up soon for a coffee.
You was in a bad way after your accident before you got to hospital mate. Think they more or less brought you back from the dead you was nearly dog meat ,so I think you had a lot going on all at once. Good to see you back on your feet again.
@iantoy7778 yes, they did well to put me back together. However the multiple infections were a direct result of systematic poor hygiene in the operating theater. Not knocking the surgeons at all. It's the system of corruption that caused my other issues, Bone marrow infection, sepsis and getting a super bug was easy to prevent with antibiotic medication. The hospital had no medicine because it was broke. Like I said you was very fortunate to have a nice hospital. Not all the same ..
You should of got an extended warranty and got your parts free aswell:)
Ian let face it the uk now is like a third world country