General checklist

Before You Travel: 18-Point General Checklist

Use this list before booking any treatment abroad. It applies to every procedure and is the single most useful sanity check we can give you.

Confirm the clinic holds a current licence with the local Ministry of Health.
Ask for the licence number and check it on the regulator's website.
Identify the actual surgeon who will perform your procedure — by name.
Not the clinic, not the "team". Demand a named surgeon in writing.
Look the surgeon up on the local medical register.
Most countries publish a public register. If their name isn't there, walk away.
Check accreditations: JCI, ISO 9001, national hospital accreditation.
Accreditation should be current. Ask for the certificate.

Itemised quote including all consumables, materials and follow-ups.
"All-inclusive" rarely is. Ask what is excluded.
Written treatment plan from a qualified clinician.
Not from a sales coordinator.
Complications and revision policy spelled out clearly.
Who pays if you need revision surgery? Who treats you if complications appear back in the UK?
Cancellation and refund terms.
Deposits are often non-refundable. Read before you pay.

Travel insurance covering medical complications from elective surgery.
Most standard travel insurance does NOT cover this. Specialist policies exist.
Identify a UK GP or consultant who will see you after treatment.
Have this in place before you fly.
Plan follow-up appointments — in person or video.
Six and twelve months are typical milestones.

Build the recovery time into your travel plan.
No procedure should require flying home the next day. DVT risk is real.
Travel with a companion where possible.
Especially for any procedure requiring general anaesthesia.
Photograph everything: passports, paperwork, medication, receipts.
You will need this if anything goes wrong.
Note the British Embassy / Consulate contact for the country.
gov.uk/world publishes this for every country.
Tell your UK GP you are travelling for treatment.
Continuity of care matters. Bring your records back.
Re-read FCDO travel advice for the country 48 hours before you fly.
Advice can change fast. Check gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice.
Have a "stop" plan — what would make you cancel and come home?
Decide in advance, not in the clinic waiting room.

Use this checklist alongside our directory of clinics. Listing is not endorsement — always verify accreditation yourself.

Updated 2026-05

cliniccheck does not provide medical advice. This checklist is general guidance only.

Independent, free, and written for UK patients. Use them before you pay a deposit.