Thousands of tourists stream out of the two huge cruise ships that are docked in Ålesund. British pensioners Jackie (73) and Roger Howell (77) line up to buy a ticket on the tourist train. – We don’t have the best health, so we have health insurance. I wouldn’t have dared to travel without it, says Jackie Howell. Sunnmørsbyen is the country’s second largest cruise port and the population increases by many thousands every single day. The hospital also notices this. Roger and Jackie Howell have travel insurance, but have never fallen ill on a trip. Now they are visiting Ålesund on a cruise. Photo: Malin Kjellstadli Korsnes / news Several tourists are hospitalized Heart attacks, strokes, worsening of chronic diseases and fall injuries are some of the things that foreign tourists are affected by. – This is happening while we have the summer holidays winding down with many temporary workers and recent graduates. We get an extra influx of patients at a time of the year when we are basically quite vulnerable, says quality manager Vidar Hagerup at Helse Møre og Romsdal. Each patient provides a lot of extra work, which means that doctors and nurses spend hours filling in forms, contacting insurance companies and organizing the journey home, rather than providing patient treatment. Jørn-Åge Longva and Vidar Hagerup look at the statistics and see that there have never before been more foreign patients in June in Møre og Romsdal. In 2018, there were 45 inpatients, this year there were 68. Photo: Øyvind Sandnes / news Own coordinators for tourists Therefore, the health association has established its own tourist coordinators at the hospitals in Møre and Romsdal, who will relieve the health personnel. Counselor and nurse, Kari Fauske, is one of the coordinators. She sees that it is challenging for the elderly to be admitted to hospital in Norway. – There are many forms that have to be filled in and there are language challenges. I can see that they are getting tired of it, especially since there will be problems with traveling further and with the insurance, says Fauske. The largest group of foreign tourists who need treatment or are hospitalized are aged 50–65. It is still those over 80 who are the most time-consuming, because they are the sickest. – The hardest thing is when an unexpected death happens. Then there are a number of things that need to be put in place to get the person concerned back to their home country, says Fauske. Kari Fauske works as a tourist coordinator at the hospital in Ålesund, where, among other things, she maintains contact with insurance companies and arranges practical tasks. Photo: Øyvind Sandnes / news Traveling with serious illnesses Section leader at the medical department, Jørn-Åge Longva, thinks it is positive that their own tourist coordinators can take care of the paperwork, so that health personnel can spend their time treating the patients. – I am no longer surprised, but some tourists are very old. They are well into their 90s and have advanced, advanced illnesses when they set out on their journey, says Longva. He understands that they want to experience the world, but then the trip may end with hospitalisation. The vast majority have their travel insurance in order, but it has happened that tourists have gambled and become ill without it. One episode ended with a million bill for the patient who forced an ambulance flight with personnel to his home country. In Ålesund, tourists Sue and Colin Jackson shudder at the thought. Colin has various health challenges and has had insurance for many years, but fortunately never had to use it. – But you never know. Suddenly you need it. It is risky to be without, says the Briton. Sue and Colin Jackson from England stay healthy on cruises, and think that those who go without travel insurance are taking a big risk. Photo: Malin Kjellstadli Korsnes / news
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The hospital takes action to help sick cruise tourists
