Britons travelling overseas for cheap cosmetic and obesity procedures are returning home with life-threatening complications, placing a multi-thousand-pound burden on the NHS and, in the worst cases, costing patients their lives.
The High Human and Financial Cost to the NHS
A stark new study published in the British Medical Journal reveals the severe consequences of medical tourism. Researchers found that treating infections, sepsis, and other serious complications from surgeries performed abroad costs the NHS between £1,058 and £19,549 per patient. The analysis, led by Dr Clare England of Health Technology Wales, examined 655 patients treated by the NHS between 2011 and 2024, 90% of whom were women with an average age of 38.
The most common destination for these procedures was Turkey, accounting for 61% of the cases studied. Complications ranged from infected wounds to catastrophic outcomes like multiple organ failure, cardiac arrest, and hypoxic brain injury, often requiring intensive care and powerful antibiotics.
Tragic Losses and Government Warnings
The research underscores a grim human toll. Foreign Office data shows six Britons died in Turkey in 2024 following medical procedures, with at least six more dying there the previous year. The study references several individual tragedies, including Kaydell Brown, 38, from Sheffield, who died after going into theatre in 2024, and Hayley Dowell, 38, who suffered fatal complications after a Brazilian butt lift, tummy tuck and liposuction in Turkey in October 2023.
In response, Health Secretary Wes Streeting has issued "strong advice" to the public, urging them to think carefully about offers that seem "too good to be true." While affirming the NHS will not turn away those in need, he stated this crisis creates an "unnecessary pressure" on the health service. The government has launched a drive to crack down on dangerous medical tourism and is updating its guidance for travellers.
Calls for Better Data and Public Awareness
The Welsh research team, which included experts from Cardiff and Bangor universities, is calling for the systematic collection of all data on NHS follow-up care for overseas operations. Dr England concluded that awareness campaigns are urgently needed to inform the public about potential complications and clarify which costs the NHS will cover and which patients may be liable for.
The Department of Health and Social Care reiterated the warning, stating: "Too many people are also being lured overseas for cheap cosmetic procedures, only to come home with life-changing complications." They advise anyone considering treatment in Turkey to first discuss their plans with their own UK doctor or dentist.
