The European Health Insurance Card – don´t leave home without it

Not a replacement for full and comprehensive travel insurance, but still a vital document, the European Health Insurance Card should always be carried when you are on holiday in Europe. The card is designed to take advantage of reciprocal medical arrangements between countries in the European Economic Area (EEA), and covers you for certain medical bills if you suffer accident or injury abroad.

For more information how to make a no win no fee no obligation compensation claims phone 08000 154321 or click here for www.roseclaims.co.uk


Fifteen member states of the European Community, plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland (limited use) are covered by the European Health Insurance Card. If you or your dependants are suddenly taken ill in any of the countries in the EEA, or if you have an accident, you will receive free or reduced-cost emergency treatment on the production of a valid card. If you suffer an accident or injury which was not your fault, while travelling in the EEA, you can claim holiday illness or accident compensation when you return to the UK. However, this card will cover your medical bills (every country may have slightly different rules), when you are abroad. You will receive emergency treatment on the same terms as nationals of the country you are visiting, and each country has specific conditions as to what medical expenses are actually covered.Details of your cover with the European Health Insurance card can be checked before you travel, as each country is different.

How to apply for a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)

Main UK post offices have leaflets available, entitled ´Health advice for travellers.´ Fill in the application form, in accordance with advice in the leaflet and hand over the completed form at the post office. The card is free, and you can also apply online for it.
Keep the card safe, along with your passport and carry it with you when travelling in the EEA. Remember that this card:

1.Replaces the old E-forms but offers the same entitlements

2. Holds no electronic or clinical data, but shows your name, date of birth and a personal ID number

3. Is valid for up to 5 years (when issued in the UK – different countries have different rules regarding this)

4. Can be applied for in person, by phone or by e-mail

5. This card is not a replacement for fully comprehensive holiday medical insurance, and you could still be expected to pay for some of your treatment on production of the card.
If you have suffered an unexpected illness or holiday accident that was not your fault you may be able to claim holiday accident and illness compensation when you return to the UK. Contact a personal injury solicitor in the UK who specialises in holiday accidents and illness and who works on a no win no fee basis – which means no cost to you.


Farnworth Rose Solicitors can help you
100% of all compensation goes to you.
£100.00 cash up front when we take on your claim.
No win, no fee, no risk

Claiming for holiday illness, injury or accidents in Spain, Turkey, France, Cyprus, Greece, Poland, Ireland, Slovakia, Romania, Portugal or any EU country can be difficult. Holiday claims expert, Anne Thomson of Farnworth Rose Personal Injury Solicitors, has over 20 years experience of dealing with clients who have fallen ill or sustained injuries abroad. Anne´s background and customer service skills ensure clients are dealt with in a professional and sympathetic manner. Her knowledge and expertise in the specialised area of travel law is second to none. Tour operators often offer clients less compensation than they deserve, and it is essential that you contact us before you accept any payment. Your claim will then be assessed and you will be advised by Anne and her highly trained team how to proceed. For more information or to make a claim Call us FREE on 080001 54321, or fill in the claim form.

Holiday hot spots or holiday hell spots? Health and hygiene abroad

Although holiday health and hygiene standards have improved generally over the past few years, you can still fall victim to food poisoning, norovirus and poolside accidents on holiday. The vast majority of resort hotels in Spain, Turkey, France, Germany, Greece, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Belgium, Holland, Poland, Slovakia, Sweden, Italy and the rest of Europe, demonstrate high standards of health and safety, and holiday illness is not a problem. However, other package tour hotels are found lacking, and some should never appear in holiday brochures. Tour operators have a responsibility to holidaymakers to ensure health and safety standards are high, and that the well-being and health of the visitor is high on the list of priorities. You can claim compensation for holiday illness or accident in Malta, Spain, Portugal, France, Turkey or any EU country when you return to the UK if it was caused through the negligence of the tour operator or the holiday package hotel.

For more information how to make a no win no fee no obligation compensation claims phone 08000 154321 or click here for www.roseclaims.co.uk


Be as vigilant and as careful on holiday as you would be at home, and always consider:

1. Eat undercooked or raw chicken and pork, which is a major cause of food poisoning in holiday package hotels. Always check chicken, pork and hamburgers are thoroughly cooked on the hotel barbecue before eating. Salads and desserts should be covered and kept chilled.

2. Always drink bottled water

3. Never swim in a dirty swimming pool with cloudy, or untreated water

4. Check cutlery is clean and don´t eat off a dirty restaurant table. Food that is left on plates attracts flies

5. Never eat reheated food which may have been served the day before (hotel package buffets are particularly hazardous when food is reheated and reserved on a regular basis)

6. Never eat food that has been left out at room temperature, open to the elements and open to flies. Seafood, mayonnaise and fish is particularly vulnerable to bacterial if not kept at the proper temperatures If health and safety standards in your holiday hotel are not up to standard, complain to your holiday rep or to the hotel manager. It is unlikely you would eat food that has been left out for hours in a UK hotel, so don´t accept it in your holiday hotel. Norovirus and food poisoning are one of the most common forms of holiday illness in holiday hotel package tours and on cruise ships. If you have suffered holiday illness through no fault of your own, on a holiday package tour, or on board a cruise ship, contact a no win, no fee personal injury solicitor when you get back to the UK, who can get you the compensation you deserve.

Farnworth Rose Solicitors can help you100% of all compensation goes to you.£100.00 cash up front when we take on your claim.No win, no fee, no risk
Claiming for holiday illness, injury or accidents in Romania, Spain, Turkey, France, Cyprus, Greece, Portugal or any EU country can be difficult. Holiday claims expert, Anne Thomson of Farnworth Rose Personal Injury Solicitors, has over 20 years experience of dealing with clients who have fallen ill or sustained injuries abroad. Anne´s background and customer service skills ensure clients are dealt with in a professional and sympathetic manner. Her knowledge and expertise in the specialised area of travel law is second to none. Tour operators often offer clients less compensation than they deserve, and it is essential that you contact us before you accept any payment. Your claim will then be assessed and you will be advised by Anne and her highly trained team how to proceed. For more information or to make a claim Call us FREE on 080001 54321, or fill in the claim form.

Top tips for a safe holiday

Health and safety on holiday is just as important on holiday as it is in the UK. Health requirements for every country should be made clear in your holiday brochure, or from your travel agent. If you are unsure whether you need vaccinations, particularly for a trip to a developing country, contact your GP well in advance of your travel date. The majority of travellers to Turkey, Greece, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Spain, France, Italy, Portugal, Cyprus, Sweden, Denmark and other worldwide destination return healthy, refreshed and unscathed, but holiday illness can ruin your trip. Good organisation and preparation should prevent you from suffering any major problems on your holiday package tour. Always remember:

For more information how to make a no win no fee no obligation compensation claims phone 08000 154321 or click here for www.roseclaims.co.uk


1. If you take regular medication, get a good supply from your GP before travelling.

2. Make sure you have plenty of rehydration sachets and medicine for gastric illness and diarrhoea, which are common complaints on holiday.

3. If you think you may need vaccinations, see your GP at least 6 weeks before travelling. If you are unsure about vaccinations, ask advice from your doctor.

4. Check the Department of Health website for any additional information which may be useful about the country you are travelling to.

5. Ensure your medication is legal in the country you are travelling to.

6. Thoroughly check different rules regarding hand baggage and medication with your airline before leaving for the airport.

7. If you are taking regular medication with you, also take a prescription and a letter from your GP

Most important to remember is, if you are travelling to another EU country, make sure you are carrying a European Health Insurance card which means, in the event of a holiday illness or accident, you are covered for health care in: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the UK.

Where holiday illness is concerned, prevention is much better than cure. With an increase in budget flights, most European destinations are much more accessible to tourists than they used to be. Along with an increase in holidaymakers comes an increase in holiday accidents and illness. If you suffer a holiday accident or illness abroad, you can now claim compensation from a personal injury solicitor who specialises in holiday illness when you return to the UK. If you think you have a claim for compensation, contact a personal injury solicitor who specialises in holiday illness and accidents and who works on a no win no fee basis, which means no cost to you.
Farnworth Rose Solicitors can help you100% of all compensation goes to you.£100.00 cash up front when we take on your claim.No win, no fee, no risk

Claiming for holiday illness, injury or accidents in Spain, Turkey, France, Cyprus, Greece, Portugal, Malta, Poland or any EU country can be difficult. Holiday claims expert, Anne Thomson of Farnworth Rose Personal Injury Solicitors, has over 20 years experience of dealing with clients who have fallen ill or sustained injuries abroad. Anne´s background and customer service skills ensure clients are dealt with in a professional and sympathetic manner. Her knowledge and expertise in the specialised area of travel law is second to none. Tour operators often offer clients less compensation than they deserve, and it is essential that you contact us before you accept any payment. Your claim will then be assessed and you will be advised by Anne and her highly trained team how to proceed. For more information or to make a claim Call us FREE on 080001 54321, or fill in the claim form.

Hotel hazards at the swimming pool

Hotel swimming pools can be the most dangerous place for your children to play. Holidaymakers in Spain, Turkey, Greece, Cyprus, Italy, Malta and Portugal are all at risk from unsafe swimming pools, and children drown every year in neglected pools. If you have suffered a holiday illness or injury in the swimming pool, due to cracked tiles around the complex or dirty water causing ear infections, you may be able to claim compensation when you return to the UK.

For more information how to make a no win no fee no obligation compensation claims phone 08000 154321 or click here for www.roseclaims.co.uk


To reduce the risk of holiday injury or illness around the swimming pool, always remember:

1. The floor of the pool must always be visible from the side, and no objects should be placed in the pool, under the water

2. The water should be clear. Never enter the pool if the water is cloudy.

3. If chemicals and cleaning fluid have recently been added to the pool, the whole area should be roped off until it is safe to swim. Ensure your children don´t enter the pool until it is safe to do so.

4. Children´s pools must always be supervised and situated well away from deep water

5. Never leave children alone in the pool. Even the best swimmers can get into difficulty if they are accidentally hit or trapped underwater.

6. A visible and strong barrier should separate the children´s pool from the adult pool if they form part of the same area. The depth of the pool should be clearly marked all the way around.

7. Avoid diving into the pool unless you are sure of the depth. Don´t rely on poolside signs, as you could misread them. Some of the most serious swimming pool accidents are caused by people diving in to shallow water.

8. Depth markings must be accurate, prominent and regularly featured around the pool.

9. Test the pool when you first arrive for hidden drops, ledges and steep changes in depth.

10. Well trained pool attendants should be supervising the pool area from the time it opens to the time it closes.

11. Slippery and cracked tiles are particularly hazardous around the pool area, and hotels in Turkey, Greece, Cyprus, Spain, France and Italy have a responsibility to keep the pool areas safe. Never run around the pool complex.

12. Ensure slides and diving boards are situated over a deep part of the pool and that the equipment is securely fixed to the floor.

13. Never swim after eating a big meal, drinking alcohol or taking drugs

14. Non-swimmers should always wear armbands around the pool side, even if they do not intend to swim. Holidaymakers have drowned in swimming pools after slipping and falling into deep water

15. Every outlet grill should be covered by grating, and the water flow should not generate strong suction, which can trap bathers underwater by the hair. If you notice a grill is not covered under the water level, notify the lifeguard or hotel manager as soon as possible.

16. If you think the safety standards around your holiday pool complex are not up to standard, contact your holiday hotel manager and make an official complaint to your holiday representative

17. Take photographs or video evidence of anything you consider to be unsafe around the pool area of your hotel. Unsafe practices around the pool, chipped tiles, grills with no covers and dirty water can all cause holiday injury and illness. If you think you may have a claim for holiday compensation when you return to the UK, gather as much evidence as possible which will help your claim for compensation.

Ensuring safety standards in your holiday swimming pool are adhered to can be a matter of life or death. Even if you or your children are good swimmers, you can fall victim to dirty pools, unsafe depth markings, untrained lifeguards or even cracked tiles inside the pool causing injury. If you suffer a holiday injury, illness or accident in the swimming pool in Turkey, France, Spain, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Portugal, Malta, Poland, Greece, Italy or elsewhere in Europe, you need to contact a personal injury solicitor when you return to the UK who specialises in holiday accident and illness compensation.

Farnworth Rose Solicitors can help you
100% of all compensation goes to you.
£100.00 cash up front when we take on your claim.
No win, no fee, no risk and no cost to you

Claiming for holiday illness, injury or accidents in Spain, Turkey, France, Cyprus, Greece, Portugal or any EU country can be difficult. Holiday claims expert, Anne Thomson of Farnworth Rose Personal Injury Solicitors, has over 20 years experience of dealing with clients who have fallen ill or sustained injuries abroad. Anne´s background and customer service skills ensure clients are dealt with in a professional and sympathetic manner. Her knowledge and expertise in the specialised area of travel law is second to none. Tour operators often offer clients less compensation than they deserve, and it is essential that you contact us before you accept any payment. Your claim will then be assessed and you will be advised by Anne and her highly trained team how to proceed. For more information or to make a claim Call us FREE on 080001 54321, or fill in the claim form.

Holiday water sports, hell and high water

Holiday water sports should be fun. The vast majority of water sports centres in Turkey, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Malta, France, Cyprus and Italy are well supervised, and well run, but what happens if a water sports accident ruins your holiday? Water sport centres should be safe environments, supervised by qualified instructors. Most are but some are not. If you are planning to take part in any holiday sporting activity, on land or on the water, always remember:

For more information how to make a no win no fee no obligation compensation claims phone 08000 154321 or click here for www.roseclaims.co.uk


1. Follow all safety guidelines before taking part in any sports on holiday. Even experienced sportsmen can suffer injuries skiing, canoeing or mountaineering if they don´t read the basic safety regulations. Even minor holiday injury can ruin your trip.

2. Make sure you know who to contact in case of an emergency. Staff supervising the sports centre should know basic first aid, but make sure you are aware of any emergency phone numbers before partaking in particularly hazardous sports.

3. If you plan to take part in any sports, make sure your medical insurance covers holiday injury from sports activities. This will cover you in case of an accident. Hospital bills for the treatment of fractures, sprains and even minor operations can be enormous. Check your holiday insurance policy thoroughly and make sure you have sufficient cover. If you think you have a claim for compensation after a holiday sports accident that was caused by the negligence of another party, or by faulty equipment, you can contact a personal injury solicitor when you return to the UK.

4. If you are hiring sports equipment from an independent sports centre (not the hotel), make sure the equipment is safe and working properly. If you find the equipment to be faulty in any way, don´t use it.

5. Always ask your tour rep which sports hire company to use. Your hotel representative will know more than you about local equipment hire companies, and which ones are reputable. Remember, holiday sports accidents are usually caused by faulty equipment.

6. If you wouldn´t use certain equipment in the UK, then don´t use it on holiday.

7. Sports equipment needs to be properly maintained. If you have any doubts then don´t use it.

8. Take extra special care when participating in water sports. Holiday accidents which take place on the water can prove serious, if not fatal. Instructors should be qualified and experienced, and you will find dive centres in Turkey, Spain, Greece, Cyprus, France and Portugal which are members of The Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI).

9. All water sports instructors should be fully qualified and experienced in first aid.

10. Never participate in any sport after consuming alcohol or using drugs.

11. Understand warning signs and flags on the beach which warn of hazardous seas and unsafe tides.

12. Never go scuba diving unless you are sure the water is safe.

13. Always allow at least 24 hours between your last dive and your flight home.

14. If you are concerned about any safety aspects of the sports you want to participate in, even if they are not particularly hazardous sports, inform your holiday rep immediately.
Prevention is better than cure. Too many holidaymakers throw caution to the wind when they step off the plane and act more recklessly than they would at home. Carry out some basic safety checks and make sure all sports equipment is well maintained to give you peace of mind on holiday.

If you have suffered a sports accident on holiday that was not your fault in Turkey, France, Greece, Italy, Germany, Belgium, Ireland, Denmark, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Romania, Malta, Holland, or any other country in Europe, you may be able to claim compensation when you return to the UK. Contact a personal injury solicitor who works on a no win no fee basis and who specialises in holiday illness and accident compensation claims. Take as much photographic evidence as possible of faulty equipment, unsafe signage etc., and never accept a payout from the tour operator before consulting a personal injury solicitor in the UK.

Farnworth Rose Solicitors can help you
100% of all compensation goes to you.
£100.00 cash up front when we take on your claim.
No win, no fee, no risk

Claiming for holiday illness, injury or accidents in Spain, Turkey, Portugal or any EU country can be difficult. Holiday claims expert, Anne Thomson of Farnworth Rose Solicitors, has over 20 years experience of dealing with clients who have fallen ill or sustained injuries abroad. Anne´s background and customer service skills ensure clients are dealt with in a professional and sympathetic manner. Her knowledge and expertise in the specialised area of travel law is second to none. Tour operators often offer clients less compensation than they deserve, and it is essential that you contact us before you accept any payment. Your claim will then be assessed and you will be advised by Anne and her highly trained team how to proceed. For more information or to make a claim Call us FREE on 080001 54321, or fill in the claim form.

The common fly

The common fly is not considered by many to cause holiday illness abroad. But flies can spread more disease than any other insect. Disease and bacteria is spread in most holiday destinations by flies, including: Turkey, Egypt, Greece, Spain, France and even the UK. Bacteria which flies carry and spread can and does affect visitors to worldwide destinations every year. Swarms of flies in package hotels and holiday accommodation can represent a real hygiene problem that causes illness and disease.

For more information how to make a no win no fee no obligation compensation claims phone 08000 154321 or click here for www.roseclaims.co.uk


The most hazardous place for flies to congregate is near hotel and restaurant kitchens and outdoor barbecue areas where the food attracts swarms of insects. Not only are flies a nuisance but they spread disease to holidaymakers via the food they infect. If you suffer holiday illness as a result of food poisoning, norovirus or salmonella, it could be that flies have contaminated the food you have eaten. If this proves to be true and you stayed in a holiday package hotel, you may be able to claim holiday illness compensation when you return to the UK. Holidaymakers to Italy, Malta, Portugal, Cyprus, Turkey, France, Spain, and even cooler countries such as Germany and Poland have suffered illness on holiday, which can be associated with large numbers of flies infecting food.

These insects generally breed and feed in unsanitary areas, where larvae feed on decaying organic matter – which makes the spread of bacteria much more likely. An adult female fly can detect suitable areas of vegetation or decaying animal matter to lay her eggs. Adult flies become contaminated when they emerge from the pupae, and can cause holiday illness by landing on uncovered food or food preparation areas in the hotel kitchen.

Claiming compensation for holiday illness contracted abroad is more straightforward than it used to be. If you have contracted a holiday illness in any EU country including Greece, Turkey, Spain, France, Portugal, Sweden, Germany, Holland, Finland, Ireland or Estonia, which was not your fault, you can claim compensation when you return to the UK. Seek medical advice from your GP if your symptoms have not cleared up then contact a personal injury solicitor as soon as possible who specialises in holiday illness and accident compensation claims. Find a personal injury solicitor who works on a no win no fee basis and one who will deal with your holiday illness claim directly.

Among other things, a fly feeds on human faeces, which contains diseased organisms. These organisms become attached to the hairs, legs and body of the fly as the insect walks over the faeces. Once the insect flies into a restaurant kitchen or food preparation area, it will usually land on unprotected food or food preparation areas. The fly will then leave diseased organisms over the food and vomit fluid from its previous meal, causing more contamination.
Common holiday illness such as gastroenteritis can be carried by flies, plus more serious illness such as typhoid, dysentery and cholera. The majority of holiday package hotels undergo regular inspections to ensure health and safety standards are up to scratch. The majority of holiday package tour hotels in Turkey, Greece, Cyprus, Spain, France, Malta, Lithuania, Finland, France, Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany and Sweden are never likely to have food poisoning outbreaks in their kitchens. Health and safety standards have improved enormously over the past few years, and tour operators take more care to ensure the health and wellbeing of holidaymakers. However, some holiday hotels still leave a lot to be desired where hygiene and safety is concerned. Food poisoning on cruise ships and norovirus outbreaks in holiday package hotels is still one of the most common forms of holiday illness.

The European Directive on Food Hygiene (EDFH) states that member states´ legislation must include certain clauses. If you are thinking of making a complaint after a holiday illness caused by neglect and bad hygiene, and possibly making a claim for holiday illness compensation, it is worth remembering the following points from the EDFH:´The layout, design, construction and size of food premises shall permit good food hygiene practices, including protection against cross contamination between and during operations, by foodstuffs, equipment, materials, water, air supply or personnel and external sources of contamination such as pests ……´
´All food which is handled, stored, packaged, displayed and transported shall be protected against any contamination likely to render the food unfit for human consumption, injurious to health or contaminated in such a way that it would be unreasonable to expect it to be consumed in that state. In particular, food must be so placed and/or protected as to minimise any risk of contamination. Adequate procedures must be in place to ensure pests are controlled.” (Regulation 4 (2) (d), Schedule I, Chapter IX)

Member states have now introduced regulations implementing the above.If you believe high standards of health and safety were not implemented at your holiday package hotel or on your holiday cruise, and that you suffered a holiday illness as a result of this, you may be able to claim holiday illness compensation when you return to the UK. Tour operators have a responsibility to holidaymakers and they must ensure that your health and safety is of paramount importance when you book a hotel holiday package. If you suffer holiday illness through bad hygiene practices, make a note of any bad hygiene practices you notice, and also photograph dirty kitchens, uncovered food, dangerous floor surfaces or dirty toilets, which may be relevant to any future compensation claim. Regular cleaning and disinfecting of food preparation areas is essential to keep bacteria at bay, and strict hygiene rules should always be adhered to in holiday hotels or cruise ship kitchens

Farnworth Rose Solicitors can help you100% of all compensation goes to you.£100.00 cash up front when we take on your claim.No win, no fee, no risk
Claiming for holiday illness, injury or accidents in Spain, Turkey, Portugal or any EU country can be difficult. Holiday claims expert, Anne Thomson of Farnworth Rose Solicitors, has over 20 years experience of dealing with clients who have fallen ill or sustained injuries abroad. Anne´s background and customer service skills ensure clients are dealt with in a professional and sympathetic manner. Her knowledge and expertise in the specialised area of travel law is second to none. Tour operators often offer clients less compensation than they deserve, and it is essential that you contact us before you accept any payment. Your claim will then be assessed and you will be advised by Anne and her highly trained team how to proceed. For more information or to make a claim Call us FREE on 080001 54321, or fill in the claim form.