Waiting lists send patients abroad

According to 74% of GPs, UK citizens who travel abroad for medical treatment are doing so because of exasperation with UK waiting lists.

GPs have confirmed this new trend, with one in five saying they have seen a notable increase in the number of patients doing so.

Interviewed as part of Norwich Union Healthcare's (NUH) 'Health of the Nation Index', the GP panel also reports that 45% of patients who travel to another country for medical treatment are doing so for major operations, such as cardiac surgery and hip replacement. The most popular destinations include India, Costa Rica, South Africa, Germany, America and Thailand. A further online poll revealed that 83% would travel abroad for a major operation if the waiting time was less than in the UK.

Dr Ann Robinson, a GP who took part in the research was 'surprised by the results. I didn't realise that so many people are seeking diagnosis and treatment abroad. I might have expected people to travel for fairly minor operations such as cosmetic surgery or varicose vein procedures, but not for major surgery like heart bypasses and hip replacement.

'If everything goes according to plan, having an operation in another country may seem like a good solution, however patients must be fully aware that there are a number of risks associated with having an operation abroad which may not occur to them before they travel.'

NUH has highlighted important considerations that patients should be aware of:

• it can be difficult to obtain information about for-eign hospitals and consultants;

• travelling with an existing condition could in-crease the risk of developing further symptoms e.g. a thrombosis;

• complications following an operation could leave patients stranded for up to three months longer than expected;

• different formatted documentation may cause confusions;

• there is no easy stream of communication with a foreign hospital, and if complications develop GPs will have limited access to x-rays, blood test results etc.

Dr Doug Wright of NUH added: 'one of the main themes that has been highlighted by the report is the growing concern GPs have about their patients' medical experiences and the quality of care available within the NHS. Believing that their local NHS Trusts aren't able to cope with some of the core health challenges of today is one of the strongest indicators of this.'