Joanna Lumley ‘wouldn't mind' assisted dying if she got to a ‘miserable' state
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The Sun
2 days ago
- The Sun
Brit grandad in Greek ICU with £14k bill after failing to declare health issue GP told him ‘not to worry about'
A BRITISH grandad is on life support in Greece with a £14,000 medical bill after an insurance mix-up over a lung mass his GP told him 'not to worry about'. Alan Kirby, 67, from Somerset, is now on a ventilator and stuck abroad with no cover for a £45,000 flight home because he didn't declare a condition previously dismissed as harmless. 5 5 His stepdaughter Liza Whitemore, 40, said: 'There's a talk about him going into a coma, but we don't know if it's cancer or pneumonia doing the damage. "He's fine, then he's not, he's fine then he's not. He's really breathless, on the phone he can't say more than a few sentences. We're just desperate to get him home." Alan, a car valeter from Marston Magna, had been three days into a family holiday in Zante with his partner Helen Whitemore, 62, Liza and her three daughters when he fell ill on July 5. He had an aching pain all down his side during dinner, which he thought was from throwing his stepdaughter's children around in the sea. The next morning he woke up breathless and went to a local medical clinic. After tests, doctors advised he return to the UK for a biopsy on a mass spotted in his right lung. But before they could leave, Alan deteriorated. His oxygen levels dropped to 36 per cent and he began fitting in his hospital bed. Doctors placed him on a non-invasive ventilato and have warned he may need to be put in a coma, but feared he wouldn't wake up due to his fragile lungs. Liza said: 'He looked dreadful, grey and pale. Everyone was petrified. Nobody knew what was going on.' The signs and symptoms of cancer Alan was airlifted by helicopter to a private hospital in Athens because he was too sick to fly commercially. But days later, the insurance company told the family they had checked Alan's UK medical records and discovered the lung mass had been noted by doctors back in December 2024, though they believed it was benign fatty tissue. That made it a 'pre-existing condition', something the family hadn't declared, because they thought it was harmless. Liza said: 'We know we've made the mistake, that's the problem. 'My mum had gone into the bank that she had insurance with and they said, 'just go on holiday, you don't have to do anything'. 'They didn't know about the mass. And he was well before, he was working as a car valeter the day before the holiday.' The insurance company agreed to cover the first five days of care in the Athens private hospital, racking up a £14,000 bill, before refusing further support. Alan has since been moved to a general hospital where treatment covered by his Global Health Insurance Card. This is a free UK card that lets travellers access state healthcare in EU countries on the same terms as locals. 5 5 But it doesn't cover private hospitals or the cost of getting home, such as an air ambulance. He remains on a ventilator battling pneumonia, and doctors still don't know if the lung mass is cancerous. His family have returned to Somerset and are now desperately raising £22,000 on GoFundMe to help cover a medical flight to bring him home. Do I need health insurance to travel? Yes. Travel insurance is essential, even within Europe. It can cover unexpected medical bills, cancellations, lost luggage and other emergencies. Your GHIC (Global Health Insurance Card) lets you access state healthcare in EU countries, but it does not cover private treatment or medical repatriation, such as an air ambulance back to the UK. Failing to declare any pre-existing medical conditions can invalidate your policy, leaving you liable for all costs. Always check the small print before you travel. Source: UK Government and NHS
Scotsman
3 days ago
- Scotsman
Insurer urges care providers to toughen up risk management
A specialist insurer for the care sector is calling on Edinburgh providers to take proactive steps to safeguard their services against key risks that threaten their operations. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The local care industry is facing increasing challenges, with rising demand and evolving risks putting pressure on providers. According to the latest data from the Population Health Directorate, around 4,430 adults in Edinburgh were receiving free personal and nursing care during the last week of 2023/2024 – an increase of around 11 per cent in the past five years. At the same time, care providers are dealing with staff shortages. Data from the Scottish Social Services Council's latest staff vacancies in care services report (released March 2025) reveals 48% of registered care services across the country reported having staff vacancies . These challenges are expected to intensify with changes to immigration rules, which will further restrict the recruitment of overseas care workers. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad David Eccles, head of distribution at specialist insurer Ansvar Insurance, said: "The care sector is facing both operational and financial challenges. While the Care Reform (Scotland) Bill will likely have a positive impact, Edinburgh care providers will not benefit immediately. It's therefore crucial that they are aware of the growing risks and take proactive steps to mitigate them.' Edinburgh care providers are being urged to strengthen risk management amid mounting pressures Alongside rising demand and workforce shortages, care providers across the UK are facing growing financial risks from cyber incidents. In England, the average cost per incident was reported to be £9,528 over a three-year period, highlighting the potential burden on providers, including those in Scotland. At the same time, there is the pressure to uphold health and safety standards, reduce the risk of personal accidents, manage public liability exposure and remain fully compliant with a complex regulatory landscape. David added: 'There's no doubt that care providers across the city deliver outstanding support to those who need it most. With the right strategies in place, they are well-positioned to navigate today's challenges and continue making a vital difference in their communities. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'By regularly reviewing risk management practices, investing in staff development, strengthening cybersecurity and ensuring their insurance is tailored to the unique needs of the sector, care providers can move forward with confidence and resilience.'
Scotsman
3 days ago
- Scotsman
Care providers urged to strengthen risk management amid mounting pressures
Ansvar Insurance, a leading specialist insurer for the care sector, is urging providers across Scotland to take proactive steps to safeguard their services against key risks that threaten their operations. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Ansvar Insurance, a leading specialist insurer for the care sector, is urging providers across Scotland to take proactive steps to safeguard their services against key risks that threaten their operations. The care industry is facing increasing challenges, with rising demand and evolving risks putting pressure on providers. According to the latest data from the Population Health Directorate, approximately 33,500 adults in Scotland were receiving free personal and nursing care during the last week of 2023/2024 – an increase of around 10% in the past five years. [1] Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad At the same time, care providers are dealing with staff shortages. Data from the Scottish Social Services Council's latest staff vacancies in care services report (released March 2025) reveals 48% of registered care services across the country reported having staff vacancies [2]. These challenges are expected to intensify with changes to immigration rules, which will further restrict the recruitment of overseas care workers. Care providers urged to strengthen risk management amid mounting pressures David Eccles, Head of Distribution at Ansvar, commented: 'The care sector is facing both operational and financial challenges. While the Care Reform (Scotland) Bill will likely have a positive impact, care providers will not benefit immediately. It's therefore crucial that they are aware of the growing risks and take proactive steps to mitigate them.' Alongside rising demand and workforce shortages, care providers across the UK are facing growing financial risks from cyber incidents. In England, the average cost per incident was reported to be £9,528 over a three-year period [3], highlighting the potential burden on providers, including those in Scotland. At the same time, there is the pressure to uphold health and safety standards, reduce the risk of personal accidents, manage public liability exposure and remain fully compliant with a complex regulatory landscape. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad David Eccles added: 'There's no doubt that care providers across the country deliver outstanding support to those who need it most. With the right strategies in place, they are well-positioned to navigate today's challenges and continue making a vital difference in their communities. 'By regularly reviewing risk management practices, investing in staff development, strengthening cybersecurity and ensuring their insurance is tailored to the unique needs of the sector, care providers can move forward with confidence and resilience.' 1 2
