Health
I made up an extensive medical chest before leaving Guernsey (actually three B&Q toolboxes, padlocked so Dan can’t get into them), as well as some first aid kits which are hung on the wall in our workshop area. We have called on several items from these boxes so far, and certain other items I bought I can’t imagine we will ever use!
We also have several books on First Aid at sea, and I have completed emergency first aid courses in the past. Nigel has some experience through working at Guernsey Sheet Metal, he has had injuries to deal with from time to time!
In general we have been pretty healthy over the summer, except for a sore throat which plagued Nigel for a few weeks early on but sorted itself out in the end. Daniel has not needed to see a doctor once, although at home we went every couple of months for something-or-other. I have been fine. It may be because of the weather, or the more active lifestyle, or the more relaxed way of life, or the desire not to get ill because we may not find a doctor we can explain the problem to!
When I got back to Guernsey in September I was thrilled to see that the weighing scales read only 8 stone 3 pounds, when we left on the 1 st of May I weighed 9 stone! I have been hoping to get back to that sort of weight for over four years, since some time before I was pregnant with Daniel. That’s one good thing about not having a car anymore!
Being from Guernsey we cannot benefit from the reciprocal healthcare agreements which people from the UK enjoy, consequently I researched and paid for a medical insurance policy with Goodhealth for hospital treatment. Unfortunately the person who handled my policy opening has left, and my new contact is useless, I intend to change to a different and cheaper policy next year.
Notes Dec 2008:
We have researched several different policies and used a few. A good value policy useful for long term travellers is with World Nomads, this can be started from any country even if you are already travelling, and is internet-based.
However we have never claimed, our only serious problem was when Daniel broke his arm in New Zealand. Luckily New Zealand provides excellent healthcare under a reciprocal agreement with the UK, including Guernsey.
Many of our health problems are dealt with by using our own resources, and occasionally we have had to see a doctor or specialist. Most of these payments would not have been covered by any health insurance as they would have been too small to go over the policy excess.