LONDON, March 8, 2024 — The National Health Service is facing bills of up to £19,549 per patient to correct complications arising from medical procedures performed abroad, according to new research. It’s a sobering figure, and one that highlights the growing financial strain on a system already stretched thin.
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A surge in Britons seeking cheaper healthcare overseas is leading to a significant financial burden on the UK’s public health system when things go wrong.
- As many as 53% of patients returning from medical tourism experience complications.
- Costs to the NHS range from £1,058 to £19,549 per case.
- Turkey is the most popular destination for medical tourists, accounting for 61% of trips.
- Weight loss and cosmetic surgeries are the most common procedures sought abroad.
What are the risks of medical tourism? Traveling abroad for medical procedures can expose patients to varying standards of care, language barriers, and difficulties obtaining follow-up treatment if complications arise. The NHS is often left to manage these issues, despite not having been involved in the initial surgery.
Hospitals are increasingly “picking up the pieces” when procedures like weight loss surgery or breast enlargements performed overseas result in infections, organ failure, or non-healing wounds. A study published in BMJ Open analyzed 37 previously published studies encompassing 655 patients treated by the NHS between 2011 and 2024 for complications following surgery abroad.
Complications Can Mean Lengthy Hospital Stays
Patients have required hospital stays of up to 45 days after weight loss operations and even 49 days following cosmetic surgery due to complications. These cases often necessitate intensive care, additional surgeries, and substantial antibiotic treatment to address botched procedures paid for in other countries.
Prof. Vivien Lees, vice-president of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, warned, “Too often people are drawn in by cut-price deals and glossy online marketing, only to return with serious, sometimes life-changing complications.” She added, “When things go wrong, the NHS is left to pick up the pieces, often in emergencies and without full information about what surgery was done or by whom. That puts patients at risk and adds avoidable pressure to already stretched services.”
The majority of patients analyzed in the study had undergone either weight loss surgery (385 cases) or cosmetic procedures (265 cases). The average age of these “health tourists” is 38, though patients have ranged in age from 14 to 69, with women comprising 90% of the group.
Turkey is the dominant destination, attracting 61% of Britons seeking medical care abroad. Other procedures driving this trend include tummy tucks, hip and knee replacements, eye surgery, and dental work. Researchers attribute the rise in medical tourism to factors like affordable air travel, aggressive online advertising by foreign medical providers, and challenges accessing timely care within the NHS.
“Treatment of complications due to onward medical tourism can be costly and made more complicated because full information about the initial surgery may be unavailable,” the study authors noted.
Andrew Rankin, a trustee of the Joint Council of Cosmetic Practitioners, pointed to the influence of social media, stating the demand for aesthetic procedures “is largely social media driven in a way that creates inappropriate body image concerns, often supported by celebrities, upon which misleading advertising then capitalises.”
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson acknowledged the problem, saying, “Too many people are being lured overseas for cheap cosmetic procedures, only to come home with life-changing complications that – as this report shows – end up costing the NHS thousands of pounds.” The department launched a campaign last year, in collaboration with TikTok, to raise awareness of the risks associated with medical tourism and improve the overall safety of cosmetic treatments.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is medical tourism? Medical tourism is the practice of traveling to another country to receive medical care.
- Why do people choose medical tourism? Lower costs, shorter wait times, and access to procedures not available in their home country are common reasons.
- What are the risks of medical tourism? Complications, language barriers, and difficulties with follow-up care are potential risks.
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