How to research a clinic abroad, read FCDO advice, check accreditations and spot medical tourism scams — the verification work that decides your outcome.
"Is surgery abroad safe?" is the wrong question — safety varies far more between clinics than between countries. Here is how each major destination is actually regulated, what the FCDO has warned about, and the checks that matter more than the flag on the door.
From fake accreditation certificates to disappeared deposits, the UK patients who have been scammed share a common pattern of red flags. Here is what to look for before you pay anything.
The NHS will treat genuine medical emergencies after overseas surgery — but not elective revision, planned follow-up, or routine post-op care. Here is exactly what you are and are not entitled to.
Six concrete steps — public registers, accreditation databases, review platforms and government safety notices — that take a clinic from "looks fine" to "I trust them".
The UK government publishes practical safety guidance for patients travelling abroad for treatment. Here is what it actually says — and what to do about it.
Not all "accreditations" mean the same thing. A plain-English guide to the badges you will see on clinic websites.
Independent, free, and written for UK patients. Use them before you pay a deposit.