Home / Health / NHS Pays £20k to Fix Botched Foreign Surgeries
NHS Pays £20k to Fix Botched Foreign Surgeries
14 Jan
Summary
- Up to 53% of medical tourists experience severe complications abroad.
- NHS costs range from £1,058 to £19,549 per treated patient.
- Turkey is the most frequent destination for UK medical tourists.
Britons seeking medical treatments overseas face significant risks, with studies revealing that as many as 53% experience severe complications such as infections and organ failure. These issues necessitate costly interventions by the NHS, with treatment expenses ranging from £1,058 to nearly £20,000 per patient. The Royal College of Surgeons of England warns that many are lured by "cut-price deals" only to return with life-changing setbacks.
Weight loss and cosmetic surgeries are common procedures performed abroad, with patients sometimes requiring extensive hospital stays, including intensive care and prolonged antibiotic treatment. Researchers analyzed 37 studies involving 655 patients treated by the NHS between 2011 and 2024 for complications arising from procedures undertaken in foreign countries. Turkey emerges as the most popular destination, accounting for 61% of such trips, followed by other countries for various procedures including hip replacements and dental work.
The surge in medical tourism is attributed to factors like cheap airfares, aggressive online marketing by overseas providers, and difficulties in accessing NHS care. A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care highlighted the significant financial burden on the NHS, costing thousands of pounds. To address this, initiatives like a campaign with TikTok have been launched to educate prospective medical tourists about the inherent risks.
