European clinics see rise in UK health tourists paying knock-down prices for ... trends now

European clinics see rise in UK health tourists paying knock-down prices for ... trends now
European clinics see rise in UK health tourists paying knock-down prices for ... trends now

European clinics see rise in UK health tourists paying knock-down prices for ... trends now

Medical tourism is enjoying a boom as record NHS waiting lists force UK patients abroad for treatment.

European clinics are reporting significant surges in Brits choosing them for joint surgery, such as hip and knee replacements, which are among the most delayed NHS treatments.

The rise comes as the NHS struggles to cope with backlogs caused by industrial action, winter flu, the pandemic and patients stuck in hospital because a lack of social care.

The current NHS England waiting list for treatment stands at a record 7.21 million and, despite a slight fall in January, it could climb above ten million as services buckle under the strain.

Orthopaedic procedures are top of the waiting lists with NHS data showing 700,888 patients on hold for knee, hip and other operations, the largest total for more than a decade. More than 60,000 patients have been waiting more than a year, compared to 436 on the list in January 2020, according to the British Orthopaedic Association.

Clinics and hospitals across Europe are reporting an influx of patients keen to beat the NHS waiting lists and attracted by fees that are around 50% of UK private health charges.

The in rise UK health tourists: How struggling NHS and sky-high prices to go private are driving Brits aboard for routine surgeries like knee and hip replacement 

Turkish healthcare provider Acibadem, which has 24 hospitals, has even opened a contact centre in London to liaise with potential UK patients seeking treatment.

The Nordclinic in Kaunas, Lithuania, saw UK inquiries jump by 53% during 2021 and is expecting to treat more than 2,000 Brits this year.

The clinic forecasts that the number of orthopaedic patients from the UK will double to almost 500 during 2023 with knee and hip replacements the most sought after surgery.

'This significant and steep increase in patient numbers is an indication of the strain being felt by the NHS,” says Vilius Sketrys, the clinic’s commercial director. “The first thing prospective patients say to us is that they are driven abroad because of the waiting lists.

'They don’t want to put their lives on hold and spend several years in pain and discomfort before they are able to resume normal life. They tell us of waits of up to four years for joint surgery and other operations although we understand there can be variations depending on the region.

'But they all feel they have no option but to go private to get on with their lives.”

Hip replacements at many UK private clinics can range from £10,000 to £15,000 but European clinic fees are charging around £7,000 for the operation, flight and hotel costs plus physiotherapy rehabilitation.

Maja Swinder, international patient coordinator, at EuroTreatMed, a medical travel agency with close partnerships with five clinics in Poland, says: “We have noticed a growth in patients from the UK when compared to 2019, especially in the field of orthopaedics. These patients could not wait any longer - for many the pain became unbearable, and they could not sleep, walk their dog or play with grandkids.

'Travelling abroad for diagnostics such as MRI has also became popular because diagnostics and specialist consultations are now hard to access within the NHS, making it difficult for patients to identify what medical problem they are facing.

'Some patients also choose us for their next surgery due to the high level of care, comfort and physiotherapy packages that are on offer. For example, we can provide an all-inclusive, 14-day package, with a hospital stay, surgery and high-quality implant, daily physiotherapy, medical care, medication and full board at the price of approximately £7,500. 

'A few days ago, a patient from the UK said that she was quoted £23,500 for private knee replacement surgery involving 2-3 days in the hospital but no physiotherapy or check-ups.'

EuroTreatMed confirmed that one Polish clinic has seen the number of orthopaedic patients from the UK rise by almost 30% from 2019 to 2022.

“Now that travel restrictions are easing, our clients are reporting more people from the UK are looking at options,” says Keith Pollard, a senior consultant at healthcare intelligence analysts LaingBuisson. “They are driven by the cheaper costs and the long NHS waiting lists.

“Reducing the waiting list will be a two to three-year task and that is a powerful driver. I can only see demand increasing as the backlog remains.

“The telling factor is that more people are travelling to Europe for orthopaedic operations where once it was predominantly for cosmetic and dental procedures.”

The European medical tourism market is growing at 18.9% a year and is predicted to be worth almost £13 billion annually by 2026, according to figures from analysts Market Data Forecast.

“The waiting lists have also led to a huge increase of self-pay patients in the UK but you can get the treatment for around 50% of the cost in Europe,” adds Pollard, also editor in chief of the International Medical Travel Journal.

“The main advice is to do your research on the clinics and what support they offer but there are a lot of excellent services and facilities available and places like the Baltic countries have well-established healthcare systems with impressive clinics.”

Private healthcare is also booming in the UK with spikes in people taking out insurance plans or opting for private treatments to beat waiting lists.

NHS England reported its highest bed occupancy in the week ending January 8 with more than 14,000 beds taken up by patients medically fit for discharge but unable to go home because of insufficient social care.

The government’s ambitious catch-up programme delivered 70,000 more elective operations in November compared to the same month pre-pandemic and it expects the NHS to raise elective care activity to 30% higher than pre-pandemic levels by 2024-25 as part of an £8 billion elective care recovery programme.

The Department of Health and Social Care has also introduced a range of measures to

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