Health Information Sheet Episkopi - British Forces Germany

Health Information Sheet
Episkopi
Episkopi HIVE
Dodge City, British Forces Episkopi, BFPO 53
Tel: Civ – 00 357 2596 2000 Mil – 94120 2000 E – episkopihive@hive-europe.co.uk
Opening hours: Mon – Fri 0800 - 1230
Serving Personnel and Dependants*
* Dependants age 18yrs +
- A-level students are entitled to medical and dental treatment until they complete
their studies.
- NVQ/VTQ Students and Dependants age 18yrs and over who are not in full time
education are not entitled to medical and dental treatment. You will need to arrange
private medical insurance. (Forces Financial offer this cover or check on the internet for
other insurance providers)
Medical Centre
Episkopi Medical Centre provides medical and dental care to all Service and Entitled
personnel (UKBC’s) and their entitled dependents.
Service Tel No Opening Times
Medical
Centre
Dispensary
Midwife
Health
Visitor
Civ: 00 357 2596 3255
Mil: 94120 3255
Civ: 00 357 2596 3581
Mil: 94120 3581
Civ: 00 357 2596 2494
Mil: 94120 2494
Civ: 00 357 2596 3860
Mil: 94120 3860
Monday: 0630 – 1630 hrs
Tuesday – Friday: 0630 – 1330 hrs
24 hr Medic on Duty. Call 112 for Emergency
Mon – Fri: 0745 – 1000 hrs
1200 – 1315 hrs
Clinic: Tuesday – 0800 – 1230 hrs
Child Health Clinic:
Wed: 0830 – 1100 hrs
Child Immunisations – every other Friday
Note: When clearing from Cyprus, Service personnel are to inform the Medical Centre of
any dependents leaving with them. If dependents have any ongoing medical conditions or
treatments a copy of their medical records should be requested and passed to the receiving
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medial centre or NHS GP on arrival at new location. Dependents medical records can take
6–8 weeks to reach to their new medical centre, either military or NHS. Ask your doctor
about repeat prescriptions for medication.
Additional Services – available through the Medical Centre
Community Psychiatric Nurse (CPN)
The CPN can only be seen by referral from your doctor. This is a completely confidential
service.
Foreign Travel Advice
Please make an appointment with a nurse or a doctor, at least two months before you are
due to travel.
Opticians
The Station Medical Centre requests that you contact them so that they can advise you
which optician they recommend.
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy is available at TPMH through referral from the Station Medical Centre. The
Physiotherapists also offer acupuncture.
Well Person Checks (WPC)
The nurses offer these. It is recommended that you have a WPC every 3 years.
Chemists
There are a number of chemists in the nearby villages of Episkopi and Erimi. Local
pharmacies sell certain items usually requiring a prescription in the UK; however advice
should be sought from the SMO.
Dental Centre
Dental Centre
Civ: 00 357 2596 3265
Mil: 94120 3265
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Monday: 0645 – 1230 hrs
1330 – 1630 hrs
Tuesday – Friday: 0645 – 1330 hrs
Dental Sick Parade
If you require an emergency appointment during working hours, please call the Dental
Centre by 0715hrs and an emergency appointment can be arranged.
Dental Out of Hours Emergency
You are to contact the Medical Centre on 2596 3255 who will get in touch with the duty
Dental Officer, they will then call you and assess what treatment is required and arrange an
appointment with you. You may be required to travel to Akrotiri or Dhekalia Dental Centre for
this emergency appointment.

Hospital – TPMH, RAF Akrotiri
The Princess Mary’s Hospital Tel: civ: 00 357 2527 5577
(TPMH) Mil: 94120 5577
Accident and Emergency
The Princess Mary’s Hospital (TPMH) Akrotiri does not have an A&E department. The
Station Medical Centre fulfils the role of a minor treatment centre and initial treatment facility
until transfer to TPMH or other hospital can be arranged.
Please note that casualties should not report direct to TPMH. Report in the first
instance to the medical centre or phone for an ambulance via the emergency
telephone numbers (112).
Paediatric In Patient Services In British Forces Cyprus (BFC)
Although there is a hospital at TPMH there is no longer any inpatient services for children
due to the closure of the children’s Ward. Children who require hospital admission are now
cared for in the Republic of Cyprus (ROC) hospitals under the care of local doctors and
nurses.
Acute trauma and emergency cases will be transferred from the medical centres to Limassol
General Hospital. Other Medical and surgical cases will at present be admitted to the Ygia
Polyclinic in Limassol under the care of the Designated Paediatrician. Children requiring
Intensive Care management may need to be transferred to a specialist unit in Nicosia.
Occasionally some children may require transferring back to the UK hospitals. Adolescents
(children aged between 14-16 years old) are given the choice of being cared for in the ROC
or on the adult ward at TPMH. The staff here are RAF/Army and civilian personnel.
Paediatric out patient services remain at present at TPMH on a weekly basis.
There are designated paediatric nurses and Hospital Liaison Officers based at TPMH who
will visit and support patients in hospitals in the Republic of Cyprus.
Medical Care for Visitors (relatives/friends)
Additional Healthcare Information
ORDER NO 29 - ENTITLEMENT TO MEDICAL/DENTAL TREATMENT AND
TRAVEL/MEDICAL/DENTAL INSURANCE FOR VISITORS - RELATIVES/FRIENDS
ORDER SPONSOR – SO2 MED HQ BFC
Reference: A. BFC Standing Order Chapter 33 Part 2.
1. Reference A provides details of those personnel who are entitled to free medical
treatment at Service Medical Establishments and also identifies those who, as a concession,
may also use the facilities on repayment basis. There is no entitlement to free medical or
dental treatment at Service medical establishments for private civilian visitors such as
relatives and friends. Personnel should also be aware that the Reciprocal Health Care
Agreement between various countries in the European Union (European Health Insurance
Card), whilst being valid in the Republic of Cyprus (ROC), is NOT valid in the SBAs. It
should also be noted that this agreement is for emergency treatment only and does not
include aeromedical evacuation to the UK. Neither is the European Health Insurance Card
recognised in the numerous private clinics that abound in the ROC
2. While Service personnel and their dependants from other Commands, who may be
visiting Cyprus, may receive free medical(not dental) treatment at Service medical
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establishments, it should be understood that this concession does not extend to aeromedical
evacuation to UK. This concession does not extend to treatment received at any Cyprus
civilian medical/dental establishment at which a European Health Insurance Card should be
produced. Applications can be made on the internet or forms are available in the post
offices
3. Para 12 of the Reference also provides the definition of a dependant, in particular a
child, where it applies to medical treatment in BFC. As a concession medical treatment will
be provided free of charge to a dependant child up to the date of their 23 rd birthday.
However, this privilege does not include dental treatment and aeromedical evacuation where
single Service regulations remain extant.
It is, therefore, essential that all personnel who have children staying with them in BFC,
whether on holiday or full time, who are not entitled to aeromed, have medical insurance that
covers aeromedical evacuation. Whilst insurance premiums have risen recently it is still a
much cheaper option than having to pay for an aircraft and specialist medical team.
4. It is essential that all visitors have medical insurance, which must include
emergency repatriation by air, and declare any illnesses to the insurance company in
advance. A visitor had to pay over €3000.00 following a stay in TPMH after the insurance
company refused to pay the costs as they had not been informed in advance of the holiday
of an ongoing illness. Sponsors of visitors may also be liable to pay all medical costs should
their guests be unable to do so.
If you have any doubts as to you or your family’s entitlement to medical treatment at Service
Medical Establishments contact either your medical centre or SO2 Med, HQ BFC on mil:
94120 2352
COSMETIC SURGERY IN CYPRUS - ARE YOU SURE?
The ready availability and reactively low cost of cosmetic plastic surgery in Cyprus means
that increasing numbers of personnel are contemplating such surgery. Before committing to
such treatment it is vital that you consider the following:
- Is the surgery available on the NHS? The Service plastic surgeons operate under similar
guidelines and, if the procedure you are contemplating is it is on the list of approved
procedures, it would be wise to seek referral to the visiting plastic surgeon at TPMH.
- There is relatively little regulation of such clinics and BFC has no means of exercising
governance over the clinic or the surgeon undertaking the surgery. You undertake such
surgery at your own risk.
- All costs have to be borne by you. This includes any pre-assessment investigations that
are required (Medical Centres are not authorised to undertake such investigations for
personnel seeking private surgery).
- In the event of complications, the costs of any additional treatment are also your
responsibility. Also, in Cyprus, in seeking recompense for complications arising from the
surgery, you would be unlikely to be awarded the sort of sums commonly awarded in the
UK.
For Service personnel, you must notify your MO, before undertaking surgery, in accordance
with single-Service regulations. Undertaking surgery may have an effect on your Medical
Employment Standard and as a consequence have career implications.
It is not intended to stop you from undertaking plastic surgery procedures.
However, it’s vital that you know the risks before weighing them against what you see as the
potential benefit.
If you are in any doubt, consult with your Medical Officer.
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