CyprusLiving

Good afternoon,

This is my first post, although I have been an avid reader of this wonderful forum for some time. Love it!
My husband and I own an apartment on the Universal in Kato Paphos, and visit 3 times a year, and will eventually live here on a permament basis, but still have a while yet before we make the move. I am gathering lots of useful information we need to know before we eventually move.

My husband (57 yrs old) has to feed permanently via a peg tube in his stomach, due to having base of tongue cancer in 2004. He now has the all clear since 2009. Radiotherapy ttreatment took away some good tissue in his throat which has left him unable to swallow normal food.
My concern is how to go about arranging for his medical nutritional food/peg tubes/feeding tubes etc. to be delivered once we are living in Cyprus. At present, a nutritional medical company makes a monthly delivery to our UK home.

He receives UK Incapacity Benefit and Industrial Injuries Benefit, both of which he can continue to receive in Cyprus. He also receives free prescriptions. (his medical food is covered by the prescription). He would complete an S1 Form and register at the General Hospital. Would the Hospital deal with the food? Would we have to make a payment contribution for this?

We need to know exactly how to go about this before we made any arragements to move to Cyprus as this is a very important factor.
I did contact the Paphos Citizens Advice Service but they couldn't help. I am finding it rather difficult to get an answer from anyone.
Your advice or experience would be most gratefully received.

Regards
Susan

I'm so sorry for not replying earlier Susan but I didn't see your post until this morning. It must have arrived at the same time as another one and I missed it.

You may have an answer by now but in case you don't....
As your husband is only 57 years old and won't be working to pay any social insurance, he won't be entitled to Cyprus state health care I'm afraid. Of course if you are in receipt of a UK state pension he will be classed as your dependent and will qualify for state funded care.

If not though, unless your UK doctors can arrange to post over his prescription on a regular basis he will have to pay for all his prescriptions and medical care.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad tidings. Let me know how you get on.
Teresa

Hello Theresa

Thank you so much for your advice which I have found to be very helpful. We have just returned from Cyprus yesterday, and have just seen your reply.

My husband's GP has issued him a permanent sick note, but would he be allowed to post his prescription to Cyprus?, as I understood that once you leave the UK permanently, you are no longer entitled to anything. He would still be receiving his Incapacity Benefit and Industrial Injuries Benefit in Cyprus.


The company who delivers his food/feeding tubes etc. to our UK address do allow 2 deliveries a year to be sent abroad, but not sure if they would continue to deliver to Cyprus on a permanent basis.

I am also under retirement age (55 yrs old) and would possibly be seeking part time employment.
I will contact the Incapacity Benefit Office to see what they have to say, and let you know their reponse.

Thank you Theresa
Regards
Susan