Frequently asked questions
Common questions from UK patients about treatment abroad. Don't see your question? Get in touch.
No. cliniccheck is an independent guide. We list clinics and treatments to help you compare, but we don't take bookings, charge commission or refer you to specific clinics. You contact the clinic directly.
We list clinics that hold a current licence in their country, meet baseline accreditation standards, and publish enough information for patients to make informed comparisons. Listing is not an endorsement — always do your own checks using our checklists.
The NHS will treat genuine medical emergencies (infections, life-threatening complications) free of charge as it would for any UK resident. It will not typically fund elective revision surgery, follow-up cosmetic procedures or aftercare specifically planned with overseas treatment.
Almost certainly not. Standard travel insurance excludes complications of elective treatment. Specialist medical-tourism insurance exists from a small number of brokers. See our article on the topic for details.
Typical savings range from 50% to 75% depending on treatment. Dental and hair transplant savings tend to be largest; complex cardiac surgery savings are smaller as a percentage but larger in absolute terms. Compare itemised quotes, not headline prices.
In limited circumstances under the post-Brexit Healthcare Agreements and the EU Cross-Border Healthcare Directive (for some procedures and EU countries). Pre-authorisation is usually required. Check NHS Business Services Authority guidance before assuming reimbursement.
JCI: jointcommissioninternational.org. ISO 9001: via the certification body listed on the certificate. National ministry licences: search the country's Health Ministry website. We have a guide to this in our blog.
Your first recourse is the clinic's complaints procedure. Beyond that: the national medical regulator in the country of treatment, and (for EU countries) the National Contact Point for Cross-Border Healthcare. UK consumer law generally does not apply to services consumed abroad.
No. A clinic cannot pay to be listed, to rank higher, or to have criticism removed, and we take no commission on bookings. We do carry one advertisement, in the footer of every page: it is labelled "Sponsored", it names the advertiser, and the advertiser writes, reviews and approves nothing on this site. Our ownership and funding page sets out exactly what is and is not for sale.
Via the contact page. We are a small team and aim to reply within 3 working days.
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