Our dream retirement turned into a nightmare: British expats Christine and Eric Thompson were lured to Bulgaria by a slower pace of life and cheap cost of living….now they are desperate to leave

When British expats Christine and Eric Thompson moved to Bulgaria in 2016 they were dreaming of a slower pace of life surrounded by stunning scenery with a low cost of living.

But nine years later the couple say they are desperate to leave after Christine, 58, was nearly killed twice by bungling doctors in the former Eastern Bloc country’s public hospitals.

Now the couple’s dream home – a secluded £242,000 four-bed villa and stables and land for their horses in the foothills of the Balkan Mountains – is on the market and they are making plans to leave Bulgaria forever as soon as it sells.

They were sold the idea of a dream life in Bulgaria with low prices and friendly locals but after nine years they say the reality is quite different.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Eric, 70, said: ‘It’s certainly a slower pace of life and the weather is well over 30C.

‘But the people are a different story, even in the beautiful weather they have faces like it’s a wet Sunday.

‘People like to say it’s cheaper for groceries here but it’s actually the same and a lot dearer for some things than in France and Germany

‘We’ve travelled extensively around the world and experienced service that was second to none but in Bulgaria it’s absolutely horrendous.

‘We walked into a restaurant, gave the waiters our order, waited half an hour with nothing and in the end we stood up and walked out again.’

Christine said: ‘When you move here you have a honeymoon period but then it changes, people have rose-tinted glasses and enjoy the slower pace of life but that quickly disappears.

‘The whole place seems to have a lack of direction. After taking an interest in what was happening in the country it became obvious that there is a lot of corruption which still exists.

‘In the nine years we have been here there have been frequent elections for parliament. All the governments that have been formed have been coalitions. As we all know any organisation takes on the traits of the people in charge.

‘It feels like a ship without a rudder, meandering along. In one year there were three elections for government. The country has no direction.’

But the couple say their biggest issue has been with the country’s archaic healthcare system which has caused Christine lifelong health problems.

When they first arrived in Bulgaria in 2016, Christine was taking Cordaron medication for an irregular heartbeat having had strict instructions to stop after six months – but three years later doctors were still insisting she take it.

Now her prolonged use of the medication has caused damage to her heart and thyroid.

Then in 2020 doctors switched her onto Xulthophy medication for type-2 diabetes, and four years later her body was ‘shutting down’.

Christine eventually paid to see a specialist doctor privately who finally prescribed her the correct medication but she continues to suffer from health problems including painful joints, inflammation of the bones and poor kidney function.

She said: ‘We are getting out because the health care falls far short of the standards found in the west of Europe – twice now they have nearly killed me and I fear the third time they will.

‘I tried bitterly to get them to take me off the medication but when I flatly refused to take it they threw me out of the hospital.

‘It scarred my heart and the iodine in the Cordaron obliterated my thyroid and caused Hyperthyroidism, massive weight gain and metabolic issues.

‘Leaving the UK is fantastic but when things go wrong those rose tinted glasses come off pretty quickly.

‘People say how wonderful the healthcare is here but it’s not – I spoke to a woman who told me the healthcare here has killed her husband through misdiagnosis.’

She continues to receive homeopathic treatment to deal with her high levels of Uric acid from the Cordaron.

She said: ‘If I hadn’t done this myself my kidneys would have failed now

‘It’s completely wiped out my trust in doctors here.’

Eric added: ‘Their system is fully paper based and if you don’t have all your paperwork with you they don’t believe you.

‘You’re hitting brick walls everywhere – all consultants do is look at your notes, they don’t converse with one another.

‘It’s soul destroying to deal with the archaic system.’

Christine says she is far from alone; many other expats also have healthcare horror stories.

She added: ‘A friend of ours has had a skin condition for 20 years that needed a specific cream.

‘When they first arrived they were able to get the right cream and everything was wonderful. After a few years the medical service here changed cream. Our friend was literally in agony. This was done to save money.’

Christine says expats who are pensioners are also often charged for medical treatment that should be free because officials can’t be bothered to fill out the correct forms.

After becoming disillusioned with life in the UK and concerned about the falling job market Eric took early retirement from his job as a chartered mining engineer and self-employed Christine quit her hospitality business.

They sold their home in Doncaster in 2005 and initially moved to Turkey after falling in love with the country during a two-week holiday.

After a decade the horse-loving couple decided to move to find a permanent sanctuary for their animals and after discussing with friends they decided on Bulgaria.

Earlier this month the couple listed their Bulgarian home – near the town of Sevlievo 100 miles East of Sofia – for sale and are making preparations to move their two horses, two dogs and two cats to France.

Eric said: ‘Bulgaria should’ve been a no no, France would’ve been the first choice but it would’ve been too difficult to move the horses that distance over four days.’

Christine added: ‘It was a learning curve for us, we’ve learned a hell of a lot here.

‘You learn about the Eastern way and it’s definitely an eye opener and it makes you appreciate being British which has standards, building codes and regulations.’