Degenerative spondylotic myelopathy (DSM) treatment in 327 Spine surgery clinics in Europe

Recently I undertook a course of physiotherapy at the Cavell hospital for a knee problem. My physiotherapist, Finlay McDonald, was excellent. He has a friendly yet professional approach and I had the utmost confidence in him. He is a good listener and my treatment plan was agreed between us. Needless to say my knee feels much better. Thank you Finlay.

After waiting 3 hours for my procedure I felt very rushed out (I was not given the correct appointment time). Whilst sedated I was woken up to call someone to collect me. I hadn't eaten for almost 24 hours and no liquids for 6 hours but I had to ask for some food and was given a small cup of water. The consultant did not speak with me afterwards so I left not knowing what to do next. I was asked if I had any questions but was too drowsy and distressed to answer coherently. The cannula insertion was horrendous, blood everywhere I've never been asked to lift my arm before to stop bleeding. At this point I was fainting; nausea, profuse sweating and briefly unresponsive. I hope the room was cleaned thoroughly as there was still blood on the chair when I left.

I went to The Cavell Hospital on 16th October for a physio after the hip replacement. The physiotherapist Chris was very patient, kind, friendly and professional. The lady at the reception was very considerate and kindhearted! The doctor who operated me was brilliant and the nurses were wonderful. I appreciate the service I've received from this hospital.

I had a very good experience with The Lancaster Hospital. I was shown to my private room promptly upon arrival, all individuals involved in my operation came to visit me before it took place, and the procedure + aftercare has been exemplary. I would like to extend my gratitude to the hospital for making everything as smooth as possible.

I attended the hospital in February 2021 and received excellent help whilst I was there. So when I recently needed and Arthroscopy on my left knee I requested that I could return there for my treatment. The hospital is excellent and the care given is great. I prefer going there than anywhere else because I know how caring all of the staff are, from Specialists to porters they are all so caring. Many thanks for all of your help.

I’ve been to Lancaster before, and I had the exact same care as last time 5Star…. I can’t fault all of the staff, as there motivation, professionalism and knowledge of the job in hand is second to none. I only found the reception desk a little cold, on greeting you, they just seamed a little “what do you want”! Sorry but front of house! Should be the first meet and greet with a smile at least….

When I came out of hospital I felt a lot happier and more confident than when I went in, knowing that I could only improve. The staff were excellent at all times and guided me through every phase of my stay. For and on behalf of Elizabeth Clegg, In-patient November 2023

All of the staff were very courteous, attentive, well presented, and exceptionally friendly. At all times I was made fully aware of what was going on in preparation for my operation. The whole experience was 5 star. I was very pleased to receive a follow up call following my discharge from the hospital.

From the moment I arrived to the discharge staff were caring, warm, attentive and supportive. Very professional and I felt like they wanted me to have the best experience they could provide. From Professor London right through to the gentleman who provided my food, everyone did an awesome job.

My patient experience was 10/10. All the staff were professional and caring. I felt well looked after while I was an in patient. I felt the surgeon listened to what I wanted and so far I am really happy with my results

Cannot fault a thing. From admission to discharge I felt safe and cared for. Everyone I encountered was friendly and professional and made me feel at ease. My consultant Mr Hinduja was exceptional. The hospital has a warm, welcoming atmosphere and is outstandingly clean. Thank you all and special thanks to Nurse Jane Bracey for taking such good care of me.

Overall experience regarding my stay was first class, all the staff was very helpful and professional. The hospital was very clean and the food was nice. I have no complaints about my stay and would highly recommend it anybody. I honestly can't think of anything they could of done better.

I cannot fault a single thing with my stay at The Lincoln, every single person I came in contact with were just amazing. Nothing was too much trouble for them, they were helpful, caring, understanding and extremely professional. If I have to have another stay in hospital I hope its at The Lincoln. Saying thank you for all the care I received seems really inadequate.

Right from the initial consultation I was informed of everything that would happen ,the service from admittance staff to nurses, anaesthetist and consultants was absolutely magnificent. The staff genuinely could not do enough for me. The room, the food and all the attention offered I would highly recommend to anybody

This was my second treatment. The treatment was very painful and staff in the treatment room were slow to react, despite my verbal communications that got louder. The consultant quickly finished the injection. I only received assistance when I asked some to please raise my knee as I couldn't move and was in pain. Maybe they didn't believe i was in excruciating pain. Last time I had a staff member chatting to me, distracting me. This time there was no friendly chat and no-one next to me. I was embarrassed with the situation and apologised, and although staff began to show concern, I felt it was somewhat delayed. The staff outside the treatment room were very caring, helpful and kind. I was given the after treatment pamphlet but was not told about medication side effects or who to call. It may be because I'd been before but all the same I would have felt better to be reminded.

From the moment Isle of Wight NHS transferred my care to The Hampshire Clinic, the level of communication and care was excellent. I was kept informed every step of the way with extra care and thought about the length of my stay and the need to travel to and from the Island to Basingstoke. When there was an unavoidable delay in my operation, the whole team ensured that it was rescheduled and happened within 12 hours of the original time. When I responded badly to the anaesthetic, the night team were kind and patient, keeping me hydrated and comfortable until I could tolerate fluids. I received outstanding care and feel fortunate that the NHS referred me after being by in their waiting list for so long. It has made me seriously question the benefits of private hospital care and should I need treatment again in the future, is a route I would definitely explore. Thank you to Mr Sethi and the whole team.

I have always had nothing but the best care from all the members of staff at The Hampshire Clinic. They are all , Friendly, approachable , knowledgeable in their field, and caring. I've stayed in hotels and had less satisfactory service.

The staff , nurses and receptionist are all amazing and super friendly . My consultant DR George Goumalatsos is just fantastic . I have had a previous surgery with him in 2019 and I honestly feel I couldn't have asked for a better doctor . I know my road isn't closed just yet as awaiting on some rest result , but he has reassured that we will do another surgery once he has my test results back and help me feel like a brand new woman and free me from this horrible disease. His knowledge is just amazing. Thank you to all at the Hampshire clinic for the great work .

From entering the Woodlands Hospital to leaving I was treat with the utmost courtesy. Though my needs were few, they were no problem for the staff. My operation went down 1, 2, 3, just like they told me. If I need any surgery in the future I would return to the Woodlands Hospital.

I was very satisfied with my treatment. The only minor criticism I would make is regarding aids to take home after my hip replacement. My letter indicated that there would not be any but I was offered a raised toilet seat when leaving but I had already bought one thinking that none would be offered.

I was looked after from the moment of walking in, taken to my room, the staff were brilliant and explained everything. Your housekeeping team were super, they gave me a choice of food and all was there when I returned from theatre. The anaesthetist and consultant took time to talk me through my procedure and expectations and answered all my questions. I had a very positive experience. Thank you so much for looking after me.

Had a fantastic experience as a patient at The Droitwich Spa Hospital. The consultant was very thorough and explained things in detail, I didn't feel rushed. The imaging team were fantastic and booked me at very short notice, had amazing patient care in the MRI scanner and results were available quickly. Amazing service

I attended my first ever MRI today. I want to say a special thank you to Diane who was doing my scan. She was so lovely, caring, kind and professional. I was so nervous and she just did the magic and made me feel so much better. I don't think I would do it without her support. And also the girls who was assisting her was very lovely too. What a great tram!

Had a knee scan done Monday afternoon and received the results and report Tuesday morning which exceeded my expectations. Everything was explained so well and the staff were excellent and very professional, can’t recommend enough. I also used the Alter G treadmill and the explanation and straightforwardness when coming to booking and using it made it super easy for me to get on with my rehab. Grateful for all their help in aiding me in my recovery.

attended the one stop breast clinic, and cannot praise highly enough the whole experience was comfortable and professional from start to finishing the staff at every level were kind, caring, made me feel at ease and really eased my nerves. 10/10

Couldn't fault any of the staff for their professionalism, friendliness and reassuring manner they showed me during my short time with them. Everyone from the receptionist to the consultant were absolutely fantastic. Only one gripe I have is the limited parking on site. We were lucky to get a space but the alternative was a pay & display at a local supermarket. I find this a bit off considering the money I was paying for the treatment!!

The whole team at HCA Wilmslow are absolutely amazing. They quality of care and attention to detail is something I’ve never seen before. Special mention to nurse Rachel who was absolutely fabulous and took such good care of me both before and after my surgery.

My wife has had a shocking experience. She had surgery moved over 4 times, paying for services she never received and when complained was only offered partial payment as a ‘goodwill gesture’, yet over a month later, Spire continue to earn interest and withhold the funds. Their response after agreeing to partial payment is to ‘seek legal advice’. They do not value their patients at all and continue to ignore emails. Disgraceful service.

My dad had his total knee replacement on Saturday 21st October at Spire Bushey and I have many good things to say and some special thanks to certain people working there who made the experience a positive one. My dad was diagnosed with arthritis over 15 years ago and told he needs a knee replacement in his 50s, but he held out mainly due to fear and decided he would rather walk being reliant on just one leg then get the other replaced. Fast forward to present day where my dad is now 69 years old we then met Dr Paddy Subramanian - he was very positive, informative and honest and my dad felt very reassured and confident in him, as did I - I wanted by dad to be treated well and also believed Dr Paddy would take care of him and we decided to go ahead. Dr Paddy in fact saw us twice as my dad started getting nervous and needed some additional reassurance and Dr Paddy certainly gave us that second time round also. He was very generous with his time The day of surgery came and we arrived at Spire reception and were escorted by Gary Mullins who was a very friendly and kind gentleman and gave my very nervous dad reassurance. It was a comforting start to what was a very nervous day and the service Gary provided was much needed as he was the first person to start our day. This kindness and comfort continued and didn’t stop with Gary- the nurses Herald and Jessica who worked in the Lea Ward on Saturday 21 October 2023 made the whole time spent in room 35 so comforting. They were very very kind, professional, personable, reassuring and took such FANTASTIC care of my dad. Two of the best nurses we have ever come across. Every patient / hospital needs a Gary, Jessica and Herald - 3 people I imagine any patient would instantly feel better by To anyone nervous about knee replacement - don’t be if you’re getting it done by Dr Paddy. My dad was terrified of getting this knee replacement for years and as was I for him! We had all sorts of nightmares including of him waking up mid surgery and seeing/ hearing / feeling the procedure. I unfortunately can’t remember the anaesthetists name but he did a fantastic job at providing the perfect amount of sedation. Its very early days for him as it’s only 2 days after surgery and there’s a long rough road to recovery and lots of work to do day in day out but far more positive now. The knee replacement surgery itself is rough when you think about what they are actually doing - but the reality was that although that might be true, it turned out to be the best and most comfortable surgery experience my dad has ever had. He woke up from surgery in a pretty good state and far better then any of his previous surgeries My dad was in room 35 which was a lovely room. Very comfortable, nice room with a nice bathroom. The hospital itself was extremely clean and nice also. The food was great and whoever prepared the omelette and crème brûlée did a great job as my dad really enjoyed it Also additionally, the Spire Diagnostic centre is where my dad had to go before surgery during the lead up for his checks. This place also gave my dad reassure and confidence for the surgery because the diagnostic centre is extremely impressive - very state of the art and the staff also great. Unfortunately I don’t know the names of the staff that did his tests during his first pre op assessment there but they did a great job Earl was the final person we saw during our stay there, he was super kind and friendly and his kindness left its mark I am a very grateful daughter. We were so nervous before but now so thankful to all those mentioned in this review Thank you Dr Paddy & the team that were all there in theatre with him for your expert work, thank you Herald, Jessica, Garry, Earl, Kwasi , the physio team and Spire Hospital Thank you all very much! Please pass on my thanks to all those mentioned in this review

Unfortunately in June 2021 Spire Bushey Hospital almost killed me. I had an operation there with an over night stay and there was a complication after surgery that was completely missed by the nurses and doctors during my over night stay despite me showing clear symptoms from the moment I came out of surgery. I was rushed to an NHS A&E 1 day later after being discharged from Bushey Hospital with in severe septic shock needed an emergency operation and almost died this followed a very agonising 3 week stay in an NHS hospital. Then Spire did their own internal investigation and got that wrong. Firstly they sent me the wrong patients details so I actually had someone else’s information of another person who had complained. Then they stated that a complication was ruled out when it wasn’t and stated all my observations were normal which they weren’t. They said I was sipping fluids fine but never measured that I was given a black opaque jug of water which was changed far too regularly by the domestic staff so it definitely wasn’t measured. I raised a formal complaint with them which they have taken months and months and months to reply to and still have not responded despite me trying to chase the complaint. My surgeon at Bushey has been very helpful and told me he was very surprised that they did not even speak to him or approach him during their internal investigation so even he has found it shocking. You’re staff nearly killed me, they shared the opinions using confirmation bias to explain away clear symptoms of Spesis and there was not a NEWS score in sight. One nurse didn’t even know how to take a tympanic temperature (from the ear). The education of their staff post surgery is something they failed on their CQC report in January 2021 and it clearly put patients like me at serious risk. Please, please, please do you research when choosing a hospital for your operation because it’s so important to find a place with competent staff to look after you or your loved ones. Your life is at stake. EDIT: 03/10/23. I have responded to their message and emailed the address they have given. I have had no response.

Full professionalism.

I thank the vascular surgeon T.T. Tazhibaev for a high-quality operation (complex phlebectomy). He chose this particular method, since others had contraindications in my case, and varicose veins were already quite advanced. The operation was performed under general anesthesia, after which I spent three days in the hospital. The doctor's care, staff attitude and comfort were at the highest level. The postoperative period passed without problems and any particular discomfort. Now I have fully recovered and returned to work.

I had a gastroscopy in this clinic, quickly and painlessly. Before the procedure, I read reviews about terrible sensations and prepared for the worst. But at Major, the doctor immediately suggested doing the procedure under sedation. I just fell asleep and didn't feel anything. As a result, I received a protocol and a conclusion. I think this is a useful test that immediately shows the condition of your stomach, even if you have no symptoms. It’s good that you can go through it comfortably and without interfering with the doctor doing his job.

I went to the clinic because of a heart rhythm disorder. There was pain and pressure in the chest, rapid pulse and shortness of breath. Now my attending physician is Anna Vladimirovna Davydova. She specializes in emergency heart problems. She helped me a lot and was able to quickly get me out of an acute state. Literally saved me - a little more and a stroke could have happened. An excellent doctor with high qualifications, despite his young age. I am currently undergoing medication treatment and already feel better. Very grateful to the doctor!

Rude staff and uncommentable reception.... I had to do rehabilitation but then I was in a small room with two other people, one of whom was very ill and should have been sheltered elsewhere, but instead it was always a huge mess, when I called the nurses at least half an hour passed. now and no worries about turning off the TV at a certain point. I ran away after one day, a nightmare!!! Terrible food and rehabilitation done in the room together with two older people but I didn't see the shadow of a cardiologist, where there was always the person who was very ill..... It goes on only due to conventions... Put the rehabilitation in Papardo!

Visit carried out a year ago for an operation on the hand and still without an answer.. but 90 euros for the visit immediately taken.. very little professionalism from the nurses to the doctors not to mention the switchboard service.. poor!!!

I was admitted to the Rehabilitation Center followed competently by Doctor Ferlazzo. I thank the head nurse Mrs. Rita, all the nurses, physiotherapists and collaborators, for their continuous assistance and availability. The only flaw, contacting the COT is a challenge

Good treatment center. The doctors and medical staff are wonderful. They performed an operation on my husband and gave him back the ability to walk. My great gratitude. There is a minus, but it relates to the city authorities; parking spaces have not been thought out. This is some kind of horror!!! Parking is impossible. A line of cars along the road from stop to stop and beyond. There are no places for disabled people at all.

26.10. In 2023, I had an operation to remove a neuroma (neurosurgeons Kakaev A.M. and Stankevich S.K.), everything went well and I am very grateful to them, professional, polite and attentive doctors. All the service staff are good and know their jobs. Thanks to this center for its work.

The service staff is good. But neurosurgeon A.M. Kakaev and Stankevich S.K. butchers. All they have to do is cut up the wild boar and separate the fat from the meat. A neuroma formed at the suture of the ulnar nerve after neuroplasty, which caused pain in the fingers. At the consultation they said that it would not be a problem to remove the neuroma, it would not affect the motor skills of the hand, and the pain would disappear. As a result, the integrity of the nerve was compromised and the pain increased two to three times.

Drink water taste is terrible. Food is disaster. Often I got completely different meals than the one I ordered or miss a lot of options like fruit or vegetables. You can’t even have proper hot water for tee. Coffee is too privileged to be discussed here!!! All this would have been solved if i wasn’t locked in the nuclear medicine station, but since I’m not allowed to be visited or to go out, i couldn’t provide myself with proper water or nutrients. I really hope when i come back in 6 months from now, that you improve the situation. If i can give you negative star i would have done.

The care provided to our child before, during, and after birth was exceptional. Both my wife and baby are now in excellent health, thanks to the dedicated team's utmost care. We appreciated the English-speaking doctors and nurses, which made it easy to understand our family's health progress during our 5-day stay. While there was a minor concern about the lack of a doctor's visit for my wife, it's worth noting that doctors were regularly visiting for our baby's health. Overall, we are grateful for the excellent service and care received at Helios Hospital. Thank you! ❤️❤️❤️

So far, so good. Easy parking, lovely location, good restaurant. And the service I have received from the 3 departments I visited was 1st class. Well done.

Never go here, Please. Dr. Julia Brzoska promotes in Doctorlib reception of publicly insured patients, but they do not. They have unqualified personal on the front desk unaware fully of regulations. It wasted my time in such a delicate topic. They are another private clinic sustained by marketing.

Most Traumatizing Medical Experience Ever! While the Meo clinic might impress with its aesthetics and cordial staff, its administrative and financial aspects are deeply flawed: Lack of Transparency: I never received a clear financial breakdown for my treatments, and attempts to seek clarity were met with resistance. Billing Issues: A year post-treatment, I got bills escalated to collection agencies and court by PVS, an outsourced payment firm used by many of the clinic's doctors. The initial bills of approximately 3800 EUR more than doubled. Worse, the bills had incorrect patient details. Missing Medical Records: Despite continuous requests over two years, I've only gotten records from one out of the four doctors I saw. A recent visit revealed a mere two notes from 22 visits and a few prescription copies – no record of MRI/MRT scans, ultrasounds, cancer tests, or blood tests. Poor Communication: The clinic's staff claim that doctors operate autonomously and aren't answerable to them. The doctors, on the other hand, blame PVS, their invoice firm. PVS remains unresponsive, creating a maddening loop of non-accountability. Legal Issues: While withholding necessary medical documentation from me, the clinic keeps adding to my bills via lawyers. They know I need the documents for insurance, but continue to stonewall all communication attempts, even from my insurance provider. In summation, my experience with the Meo clinic has been nothing short of a nightmare. Despite promises of proficient service and clear English communication (given my expat status during the Covid lockdowns), I've received neither medical results nor proper documentation of treatments. Their blatant disregard and lack of support have left me feeling abused and overlooked. I warn potential patients, especially international and EU visitors to Germany, to be cautious before visiting this clinic! Expect zero documentation, no effective communication, and exorbitant bills. This clinic seems indifferent to the profound impacts such negligence might have on your life, expecting you to bear costs out-of-pocket despite insurance coverage. The only "documentation" you might get are bills from PVS that state amounts without any clear patient context. When reaching out to the clinic for help they clearly state that they aren’t responsible for any of “their doctors”… but at the same time advertise their clinic as a fully integrated medical institution that takes care of everything for you as their patent! It’s absolutely scandalous!

**EDIT TO RESPOND TO COMMENT*** While I understand the reply is mainly to manage reputation for people reading this review, I spent 35 minutes trying to 'rectify' the issue in the clinic and was met with eye rolls and sighs from unhelpful management. I understand there are protocols to follow in regards to billing, it is just a shame that this time it seems those protocols weren't adhered to and extra charges were added. I believe my email address and phone number are on file so I am happy to discuss further if you wish to reach out. ------ ORIGINAL POST Quoted €80-150 for a doctors consultation and after a 12 minute consultation was given a bill for €394,88. Was eventually discounted by €80 euros as was able to show I was charged for services I didn’t receive but still was grossly overcharged and my lack of speaking German was taken advantage of (one small example was my 12 minute consultation was charged as “Mind. 20mins” which the obnoxious manager tried to tell me means “under 20 minutes” and wouldn’t change). Even when you do the right thing and ask for a price upfront you still get ripped off. Please think twice before attending this clinic as they are not upfront at all and are very deceitful. The receptionist was good and very apologetic but all other staff dealt with were rude and unhelpful. The final explanation is “I’m sorry but the professor can charge what he wants and won’t change anything”. Be careful if you don’t speak German as you will likely get overcharged too.

Went to the ER one Wednesday afternoon, around 13:30. The receptionist saw I was in pain and explained I had taken the wrong password ( you have to press "Consulta Permanente"). She helped me with that and in less than 5 minutes I was called and directed for treatment. Waited about 40 minutes and was seen by Dr. Ramon Maldonado Acosta. Very kind, attentive and in no rush. At 15:00 I was already home, having been to the pharmacy as well. The hospital charged 73 euros. I think it was well worth it. I was in a lot of pain & discomfort. Staff & doctor were really nice.

Amazing service. After going to Loulé public and then Faro, neither surgeons were able to get the foreign body out of my toe and I was told to leave it despite agony and not being able to walk. I attended Hospital de Loulé in desperation for a competent Doctor to assist and I was privileged to have Dr Ruben as my surgeon. What a genius! 1.5 hours from initial GP appointment, xrays and surgery and the extraction was a success. Amazing, wonderful staff and beautifully clean, calm hospital. Thank you everyone for my incredible experience.

Staff are very polite, but to get through to the Hospital on the telephone is almost impossible. The recording is absolutely a waste of time, if you listen carefully it says ‘your call is important to us and we have recorded your number and we will call you back’ They never call back so you try again and wait for them to answer, which can be over 30 minutes .

Poor service

Normal care without differentiation, for example from a public hospital, in the dermatology service it was not possible to detect the origin of my father's skin problem, only after going to a dermatology consultation at CUF in Porto

I was received with professionalism and friendliness, I also spoke a little with a doctor and a nurse, they were very attentive

Terrible service. They have closed the permanent customer service, admission for appointments from 4pm onwards has to be done at the counter on floor 0 because the counters on the other floors are already closed, which greatly increases the waiting time. Even though I've been coming to this hospital since it opened and I live a 5-minute walk away, I prefer to look for another hospital.

Very unfriendly reception at piso 0. Sending back and forth. Technician late so far 0.5h (still not here) for a scheduled exam... so far great experience with HLuz but first at Amadora. Not anymore

Dr. Joana Rocha Pauletta was extremely rude, condescending and impatient. I waited 30 minutes although I had an appointment, and she seemed to be agitated from the moment I sat down. I made an appointment with her specifically because her profile said she speaks English. So I waited two months to see her. But when I got in the appointment she continued to not only chastise me for not speaking fluent Portuguese but she was very condescending and rude about it. She continued to communicate with me in Portuguese and then would get frustrated when I didn’t understand. Again, her profile lists English as one of her languages , yet she refused to communicate in English. I had several concerns that I needed addressed regarding perimenopause and her response to each concern was that I needed to see a general doctor. Additionally their website has an entire page about communication with international patients which makes her behavior and disposition all the more perplexing. Medical Tourism is when people travel for medical procedures, in which case, tourists are not expected to speak the language of the country they travel to. This was a Horrible horrible experience. If she does not want to deal with native English speakers she needs to remove it from her profile.