European PM ID card

laminate?

by Tracey_E - 2018-07-16 11:39:50

Can you get it laminated?

It's odd they don't do them like in the US, ours are plastic. Even my first one in 1994 was not paper! 

I don't usually carry mine unless I am going somewhere with security. In over 20 years, I think I've only had to show it to someone three times, and oddly enough that wasn't at airports, courthouses, concerts or any of the other normal places you'd expect security. All 3 were federal office buildings in Washington DC. 

not sure what you mean

by jcb - 2018-07-16 12:12:01

mine is plastic and the size of a creditcard.

Where are you in Europe ?

by IAN MC - 2018-07-16 13:38:35

Hi Elise   You don't say which country you are in.   I am in the UK and, like you, have a Medtronic PM .

I telephoned the Medtronic head office ( in Watford) and received a credit card type ID card by return of post

Best of luck

Ian

Lo and behold

by Electric Elise - 2018-07-16 13:39:43

I just added a photo of said “card” next to one’s average IKEA card, for comparison. It’ll be in the members gallery, however you can only make out the difference in the thumbnail. Whenever i click to enlarge it, it gives me a cropped version - with the IKEA card missing, which of course defies the whole purpose.

Anyway, hope you can somehow view it properly. And if you do.. in the wise words of Depeche Mode, “words are very unnecessary”!

So there is hope!

by Electric Elise - 2018-07-16 13:45:59

Ian, thank you for that! I had my PM implanted in Romania, which seems to be decades behind when it comes to ID cards, but splendid in the surgery dept.

My Scottish husband and I both left the UK a few years ago, however maybe the Watford unit will take pity on me and provide some assistance. So envious of these plastic cards already! Cheers again for letting me know!

European pacemaker identity card

by LondonAndy - 2018-07-17 18:40:15

I am in the UK, and have the long thing that Elise has.  I scanned in the original and re-print it every time it ends up a bit battered or inadvertently goes in the washing machine.  I keep mine folded concertina style in my credit card wallet, with the heading section facing front. 

However, glad to hear of Ian's plastic one from Medtronic, and I will try and get one of those too!  I also have a Medic Alert bracelet, which mentions the pacemaker on the back and they have the full details on file, available 24 hours a day.

European card

by MissFitts - 2018-07-18 06:27:52

I am in the UK with the long thin paper card.. My PM is a Boston Scientific  Ingevity MRI DR, whatever that means. Does anyone know if I could somehow get a little plastic one? 

Miss Fitts

by IAN MC - 2018-07-18 07:14:37

Why not try ringing the Boston Scientific office in the UK . I see they are in Hemel Hempstead, Tel no  01442 411 600

I think you will find that they have details on file of your PM implant date, model no. etc.   It worked for me with Medtronic and I no longer use the long thin paper version.

Let us know how you get on

Ian

Good idea

by MissFitts - 2018-07-18 07:24:59

But it did not work.

Thanks very much, Ian, I have just rung them, but unfortunately they only do the paper version. Cheapskates. Now bubble is over my head saying is my PM a cut price job?

Nice lady on reception said her mum got hold of a credit card sized one online, but couldn't remember where from. 

Revolution time!!

by Electric Elise - 2018-07-18 10:36:15

LondonAndy & MissFitts, I feel less alone now!

Refusing to give up, I’ve actually contacted Medtronic US (+17635144000) and ranted away for 25minutes until I was assured that they would contact the RO, NL and UK offices on my behalf and try sort things out. I will say.. as much as I’d love for this to be resolved, my hopes just now are not very high. I will, however, be pestering the US office with a weekly call - as the saying goes, “the squeaky wheel gets the grease”. On that note, if you ever feel like it, try giving them a call over in the US, if anything, we’ll at least (maybe) get some strength in numbers. Oh, actually that will only apply to LondonAndy, as I just realised MissFitts is with Boston Scientific. Ok MissFitts, you can just plague the head Boston Scientific US office instead.

United we shall eradicate these laughable cards, haha!

Medtronic UK has ceased issuing Pacemaker ID cards

by rcpage - 2023-05-02 12:44:58

Phoned Medtronic 02MAY23 and they do not issue plastic ID cards any more. The 'excuse' is GDPR and holding of personal details. Poor excuse as a company the size of Medtronic will have GDPR compliance in place already. Suspect it's actually that they do not want to pay for the resources required to produce and mail the cards. That said why can they not leverage their US ID card making service? For a business that makes millions of profit from pacemakers issuing a proper plastic ID card should be an integral part of the product pack. 

Poor show but unless they get pushback from UK citizens it isn't going to change. Or maybe the answer is that UK ports of entry and exit put out a Directive that pacemaker cards are shown.. then Medtronic and all other pacemaker suppliers would be forced to deliver!