Sick gran stranded in Turkey dies hours after flying home

Amanda Crook

October 29, 2009

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Jean Edwards

A CRITICALLY ill great-grandmother who was stranded in Turkey for two months has died hours after flying home to Greater Manchester.

Jean Edwards, 73, from Middleton, was flown to Manchester Airport last night after a two-month battle to get her holiday insurance company to pay her medical bill.

Her condition deteriorated on the flight home but medics initially managed to stabilise her. Her condition then worsened when the plane landed and she was rushed to Wythenshawe Hospital, in south Manchester. Doctors there battled to save her but she died this morning with her extended family around her.

Mrs Edwards had suddenly become ill while on holiday in Bodrum with her daughter and son in law and needed emergency life-saving surgery.

Her insurance company refused to pay her medical bill, claiming she had failed to declare some existing health complaints properly when she bought the policy online.

After the issue was highlighted by the M.E.N and her MP Jim Dobbin stepped in, her insurers gave the family a £30,000 'humanitarian' payment to help bring her home. The family used the money and clubbed together to pay the Istanbul hospital bill and the air ambulance fee.

Mrs Edwards was treated in a private hospital in Bodrum for almost six weeks - much of it on a life-support machine following the operation to remove a blockage in her bowel. She was transferred to a state hospital in Istanbul just over a week ago.

The family still face an estimated £100,000 bill from the private hospital.

Mrs Edwards' daughter Lynne, her son-in-law Colin and granddaughter Liez said: "Everyone is in shock. We want to thank everyone involved in bringing her home to us - the M.E.N, Jim Dobbin and his assistant Colin Lambert for their continuing support, the air ambulance, the medical team on board for keeping Jean alive and Wythenshawe Hospital which did its best for her.

"She fought to the bitter end to be with her family and to be able to rest in the city she loved."

Jim Dobbin, MP for Heywood and Middleton, said: "We send our deepest sympathy to all the members of Jean's family who have worked so tirelessly for the past five weeks to bring Jean home.

"It is very sad that having brought her home that she has now passed away. Our thoughts are with the family, and we shall continue to support them.

"My office has been extensively involved with this case for the past five weeks and I shall continue with this."

Mrs Edwards bought her holiday insurance from EHIC Plus and it was underwritten by the Watkins Syndicate. EHIC Plus' directors claimed Mrs Edward's £38 policy was not valid because, although she ticked a box to say she had suffered from heart and breathing conditions and gave details of medication, she did not properly declare all her illnesses.

Mr Dobbin raised the issue of travel insurance in an early day motion in the Commons earlier this week. It calls on ministers to publicise the risks of taking out inadequate cover and failing to properly declare illnesses.

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Is It Me? (29/10/2009 at 11:29)

I wonder how many Turks and other people from the Middle East come to Britain and get treated for free?

The Man, Sat on a chair (29/10/2009 at 11:34)

I wouldn't buy insurance from EHIC Plus. But this should also stand as a lesson to everyone else to fill in their insurance forms correctly.

Luise, Sydney (29/10/2009 at 12:20)

So sad and my condolence to the family. So many people are overlooking the importance of declaring previous health problems when traveling overseas,many of us dont realise how exspensive healthcare is in other countries,often the hospitals want the money before they let you go and that can be a matter of life and death.How thankful we should be in the uk and also here in Australia for our exellent free health service.

MCFCANDY, M41 (29/10/2009 at 12:28)

Is It Me?,
29/10/2009 at 11:29
Hundreds if not thousands i bet

Steve an alternative view (29/10/2009 at 12:54)

People you might be foolish to trust-

Car Salesmen
MP’s
HMCR (Tax man)
Doctors
Insurance companies
Holiday companys
Travel Agents

Anyone like to add to this list?

davefb, bolton (29/10/2009 at 12:59)

Sad end to a horrible tale.
'is it me' , perhaps you could search for this information . You'd find that only immediate emergency cover is 'free' , the rest needs you to get insurance to cover bills. Obviously EU and EEA members will also get more coverage ( though I assume you'd need the EHIC forms for that).

Englisc Stannes, North Manchester (29/10/2009 at 13:15)

I think the purpose of health insurance is wrong. This should really cover the cost of immediate treatment and care then argue the toss when you return. Instead they small printed schemes with clauses. Shame she had not covered herself with E111 from the post office.

ted knott, droylsden (29/10/2009 at 13:59)

A very sad story and I send my deepest condolences to the family.
However it sends another message out to Holidaymakers going abroad or anywhere for that matter to scrutinise their policy document.Having said that these insurance companies put money before peoples lives this proves it...

thoughtful, East of Manchester (29/10/2009 at 13:59)

Try hundreds of thousands MCFCANDY the NHS does not claim medical costs from foreign nationals because they claim it's too expensive (they're too stupid to factor in the admin costs which because it's nationalised are exorbitant)

Matthew Wright (29/10/2009 at 14:09)

Start listening to the questions people ask you. Especially northerners. Always the worst

Knowsleyman, Paphos (29/10/2009 at 14:20)

Englisc

The E111 only covers EU countries. Turkey is not a member and, I believe, Has no reciprocal agreement.

What a total tradgedy for the whole family.

Mike S, Manchester (29/10/2009 at 14:23)

our "excellent free health service" (Luise, Sydney) costs me and my employer £800 a month in national insurance!

I hope that the authorities haul EHIC Plus over the coals and consider a charge of corporate manslaughter if appropriate. They should never have been able to register or use the name EHIC Plus, as it clearly implies it is in some way linked to the EHIC (formerly E111) card, which it obviously isn't. A deliberate and calculated misrepresentation in my view designed to dupe innocent consumers.

citycentre, manchester (29/10/2009 at 15:17)

"I think the purpose of health insurance is wrong"

To make money for insurance companies?

jane normie (29/10/2009 at 15:18)

what sort of an idiot chooses a tragedy like this to make a pathetic north south divide comment like that.i take it you are a southerner reading northern paper??????shut up you ignorant person,a family has lost a much loved lady,have some thought .or maybe just go home???
my thoughts are withe the family who have endured a dreadful ordeal at the hands of another greedy.money making despicable company.i hope it goes under.

v23474, Manchester (29/10/2009 at 16:03)

My deepest sympathies go out to Mrs Edwards' family.

Mike S, Manchester (29/10/2009 at 16:21)

Jane Normie - I reckon it must be Matthew Wright of "The Wright Stuff" fame who posted the comment. Always did like to create a storm in a teacup.

Brook Lands (29/10/2009 at 16:42)

I wonder how many Turks and other people from the Middle East come to Britain and get treated for free?
Is It Me?,

What is your point? Or am I just falling into a nasty little trolls trap?

Is It Me? (29/10/2009 at 16:56)

MCFCANDY. You are wrong,millions more like!

Cappa (29/10/2009 at 18:36)

what a sad story.....thoughts are with Jean's family. As for the insurance company SHAME ON YOU

The City Chippy, Sydney (29/10/2009 at 19:38)

A British national stranded abroad. This should have been dealt with by the government. Shame on greedy insurance companies and I mean shame.

Andy90, Vancouver, Canada (29/10/2009 at 22:44)

How sad.................

MBLUED, UK (30/10/2009 at 14:18)

snt this just like the ppi scandal, they overcharge for permiums and never pay out and dont point out exlcusions before taking the money

czech mate, middleton (30/10/2009 at 14:52)

A very sad story ,my deepest sympathy to all . As for the cretin who is stereotyping northeners . This isnt the time have you no compassion man ? keep your silly comments to yourself

f machanova middleton northern and proud

Copy Cat, Castleton (30/10/2009 at 15:35)

To Matthew Wrong -Were u dumped by a Northern lass in Turkey or something?

Julia Resenterra (30/10/2009 at 16:01)

One other person has noticed what I've just noticed - Turkey is not an EU country. If you go on to EHIC Plus website to get a quote it says 'European Union (see help for specific countries covered).' You could imagine that some people might assume Turkey is in the EU. When you go into the list Turkey isn't covered and neither is northern Cyprus although Cyprus is covered. Switzerland (a non EU country) is also covered. There should be somewhere to input your country of travel because it is confusing.

What amazes me is that EHIC had a valid argument because of the country without even taking into account the medical screening process. Yet they are using that. Is this because they've realised their website isn't clear enough re EU countries and that they accepted a payment from an elderly lady for a country they don't even cover. Is it because they haven't thought of it? When you go into the medical part, and type in a condition it just automatically puts the full name but I can't see anywhere where you can expand on your condition.

My sincere condolences go out to Mrs Edwards' family - it is shocking that she was left stranded at her age when she was so ill. I myself won a travel insurance claim on behalf of my parents 2 years ago by finding a serious anomaly in the screening process.

I hope they get compensation over and above the medical costs. EHIC Plus has not designed their process clearly.

Julia - Lancaster

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