Have you ever had an unpleasant experience on vacation? Jean Schmit has a story to rival the worst holiday nightmare... "The story started when I took my wife for a holiday in Limassol, Cyprus. It seemed like the ideal location: fine food, warm climate and friendly people.

Have you ever had an unpleasant experience on vacation? Jean Schmit has a story to rival the worst holiday nightmare......

"The story started when I took my wife for a holiday in Limassol, Cyprus. It seemed like the ideal location: fine food, warm climate and friendly people.

"In fact, we had a lovely time until the day I fell backwards while boarding a bus. I lost my footing and managed to rupture the tendon in my knee. Anybody who has suffered this type of injury will know the pain that I felt!

"An ambulance arrived to take me hospital, and that's when the problems started. Even though I was fully insured through my provider in Luxembourg, I had to pay € 960 for one night in hospital and an additional fee to repair the tendon. My wife, who stayed with me for the entire duration, had to sleep in a chair.

"Naturally I couldn't afford the operation. Fortunately the Luxembourg Air Rescue Service carried me home the following day and I was able to receive first-class treatment all round; the quality of the beds, food and general level of service was superb. The surgeon advised me to stay in hospital for several days because he could operate only after the swelling had subsided for fear of causing a potentially fatal blood clot. In contrast, the hospital in Limassol had said that an immediate operation was necessary (for a fee, of course). I dread to think what would have happened.

"Since the abolition of the E111 form, most patients don't know what treatment they are entitled to when visiting various places in Europe. This needs to be addressed quickly to prevent other people from suffering a similar experience to mine."