Just one in three holidaymakers feel confident they could adequately describe a medical problem to a doctor while overseas, according to a survey of 2,000 adults. The research, commissioned by Staysure, reveals that language remains one of the most significant obstacles when falling ill on holiday.
Key Findings on Language Barriers
Only 28% of Britons are confident they could comprehend medical advice given to them abroad. Alarmingly, 13% have delayed seeking help for a medical issue while overseas because of language difficulties or a lack of knowledge on how to get assistance in a different country.
Two-thirds of travellers would be unable to request a new prescription if urgently needed, and would not know how to communicate that they were suffering an allergic reaction or had been bitten or stung. Despite most holidaymakers being capable of ordering a drink or locating the nearest toilet, a mere 5% bother to learn essential medical phrases before jetting off.
Staysure Launches Free 24/7 Travel Doctor Service
To address these challenges, Staysure has launched a free 24/7 Travel Doctor service. The service enables travellers to speak to an English-speaking doctor or dentist in many worldwide locations via video call, arrange prescriptions, or make an in-person appointment at a clinic or at their hotel when they need medical assistance abroad.
Spokesperson Simon McCulloch said: “I’m not surprised to see, in true British style, most of us would be able to order a beer in another language when we’re on holiday. But while we hope we never need to deal with a health issue while we’re away, the research shows a third of people have had to seek medical advice and come up against language barriers.”
Communication Tactics and Their Pitfalls
The study found that when it comes to communicating abroad, 59% assume they will get by in English when travelling to a non-English speaking country. While 37% rely on translation tools, and 12% would ask AI to understand. Others admit to using alternative methods: hand signals or gestures (70%), speaking English slowly (10%), or asking someone else to translate (9%). Surprisingly, 39% have even put on a foreign accent to try to communicate better.
However, these tactics do not always pay off, with 39% ending up in an embarrassing or difficult situation due to language mix-ups. McCulloch added: “When we travel, we don’t ever imagine we are going to end up needing medical help, but there are many occasions where we do. That’s why we launched the free 24/7 service, providing travellers with that extra layer of confidence. Our research also found that 79% of respondents said they would be inclined to use the service.”
Importance of Medical Preparedness
“While it’s good to be able to order a drink or ask for the bill in other languages, it’s arguably more important that travellers feel confident they can get the right medical assistance quickly if they’re ill or injured,” McCulloch continued. “We can’t be prepared for every single eventuality but knowing a few key phrases can help especially if you require fast care, have a medical condition or take medication. But the thought of speaking with a pharmacist or doctor abroad can be a worrying and daunting experience especially with language barriers. In fact, we’ve already seen 50% of those who use the service opt for a video consultation with an English-speaking doctor taking that stress away.”
