Vegetarian Tourist Denied Hospital Care in Tenerife Due to Nationality

In late July 2025, a British tourist named Kay found herself in the midst of a medical nightmare while on holiday in Tenerife, Spain. Kay, who describes herself as a "military wife" and shares travel content on social media, said she began experiencing a severe stomach illness shortly after arriving at her hotel.

According to Kay, the issue started after she ate a salad that had been "washed with tap water." Over the next few days, Kay was largely confined to her hotel room, unable to keep any food or liquid down. Traveler's diarrhea, a common ailment for tourists in areas with lower hygiene standards, had struck Kay hard.

Seeking medical attention, Kay called a doctor to her hotel room, which cost her €100. The doctor warned that if her condition did not improve within two days, she would need to be admitted to the hospital. However, when Kay tried to get treatment at three different hospitals in Tenerife, she claimed she was turned away due to her nationality as an English person.

Kay alleged the hospitals were "incredibly dismissive" and "came across as quite racist," leaving her feeling they "just didn't want to help." Fortunately, Kay was eventually able to receive care at a private hospital, where she was hooked up to an IV drip and given antibiotics and probiotics to treat her severe dehydration and stomach infection.

Reflecting on her ordeal, Kay said she would "rather be dragged through a bush backwards" than go through the experience again, calling it the "scariest" of her life. Despite the language barrier, she praised the "amazing" staff at the private hospital for their care and support.