Joan Mullen was out walking five years ago when she fell. It was dark and she couldn’t see the end of the pavement and ended up falling forwards onto her knees. She had a lot of pain in her knees and this got gradually worse over the next two years.

Joan was told she would have to wait two and a half years to see a consultant in Cork – and it would be eight and a half years before she could expect to have surgery. “I was 66 when I was given that news. I still haven’t seen a consultant,” says Joan, “you could be dead before you could get an appointment in Ireland.”

Joan got steroid injections in order to travel to Mexico for a family holiday. It relieved the pain for 3 weeks. “I was no sooner back than I was in pain again,” says Joan, from Passage West. “Then I heard from a friend who knew someone who had been to Spain with Healthcare Abroad and I thought it sounded too good to be true. So I asked my daughter to check it out. She initially wasn’t happy about me going abroad but having checked it out, we just went for it.

“We were out in Spain within weeks and it has just been the best decision ever.” Joan flew to Alicante and was provided with a private transfer to her hotel in Denia. “The drivers aren’t just drivers. They are carers as well. They really look after you,” says Joan. She had her consultation with Dr Jordy van Rijn and her surgery to replace her right knee followed two days later.

“The surgeon was superb. He explained everything to me,” says Joan. “And the physiotherapy afterwards – the aftercare programme – was simply outstanding. They really know how to look after you. “I would just say that Vicente, Sergio and Maria were amazing. And I would say to anyone who needs help to call Healthcare Abroad today. You can be in Spain in a matter of weeks.”

• Joan Mullen is pictured in physio with Vicente; and with physiotherapist Maria, surgeon Jordy and Vicente.
• Joan travelled to Spain with Healthcare Abroad under the EU Cross Border Directive scheme. The HSE will reimburse all her medical costs around 16 weeks after she flies back to Ireland.
• Healthcare Abroad is Ireland’s only agency rated 5-star by its patients and cares for more patients each month in its EU hospitals than any other. • You can read more patients testimonials on our social media
• If you need help call us today on 012678011. We work closely with Credit Unions to fund operations for our patients  Joan is pictured with her surgeon Dr. Jordy and physios Maria and Vicente.