PATIENTS ABROAD

MORE UK CITIZENS THAN EVER ARE TRAVELLING ABROAD FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT

NEARLY 400 people a day travel abroad for medical treatment in 2016, in what is the highest figure on record. That is 143,996 UK residents, according to the Office for National Statistics, and almost treble the 48,190 people who went abroad for medical treatment in 2014.

The figure had more than doubled to 100,338 in 2015, before reaching its peak in 2016.

Poland was visited most often that year, on 33,922 occasions - the same as 93 visits a day.

Hungary saw UK residents visit 15,884 times for medical treatment, making it the second most popular country to visit. Romania was travelled to on 14,588 occasions, ahead of the 11,987 medical trips made to Turkey. Treatments abroad can include dentistry and cosmetic surgery, many of which are offered more cheaply in Eastern European countries. But health experts said the sharp rise could reflect growing numbers of British patients going abroad for medical operations amid lengthening waits and creeping operation rationing.

A spokesperson for the Royal College of Surgeons said:

“A handful of countries have begun to position themselves as destinations for health tourism, particularly for cosmetic procedures, with competitive and attractive packages encouraging patients to choose surgery abroad.

“There is the possibility that some NHS patients are choosing to go abroad to avoid long waiting lists. We also know an increasing number of NHS clinical commissioning groups are restricting access to surgery for smokers and obese patients.

“Having treatment overseas means that if there are complications following surgery, you will not have access to the same healthcare professionals, and so there will be no continuity of care once you fly home. Such complications can also be more difficult to resolve due to differences in equipment and techniques.”

Under EU reciprocal arrangements, British citizens are entitled to have treatment elsewhere in Europe with the NHS covering the costs if treatment is usually funded.

It wasn’t just Brits going abroad for medical treatment, either.

Nearly 160 people from other countries visited the UK every day for medical treatment in 2016, or 57,996 in the year. While up from the previous year, it is fewer than the peak in 2012 of 64,654 people. Dr Andrew Dearden, treasurer for the British Medical Association, said: “With less than a year to go until Britain leaves the EU, patients and doctors both in the UK and on the continent are still no closer to knowing what Brexit will mean for them. “These include the thousands of Britons living abroad, those living and working either side of the Irish border, and those patients who need to travel to another EEA country to receive specialist treatment.”

Nearly 60,000 Europeans visited the UK for medical treatment

Experts say a large number of trips are likely for dental or cosmetic reasons