Record 523,000 UK Patients Seek Medical Treatment Abroad Amid Rising NHS Waits

Long waiting times in the UK's National Health Service (NHS) have driven record numbers of patients to seek medical treatment overseas, with over 523,000 people traveling abroad in 2024, up from 431,000 in 2023. Many patients opt for procedures such as cataract surgery, dentistry, cosmetic surgery, and hip and knee replacements in countries like Turkey, Poland, Romania, India, and Italy, often due to the extensive NHS waiting lists, which reached 7.41 million in England alone. Health Secretary Wes Streeting criticized this trend, calling it "appalling" that taxpayers are forced to seek care abroad and warning about the risks of lower standards and potential complications from some overseas treatments. Despite a £25 billion investment by the Labour government to reduce waiting times and improve NHS services, waiting lists have recently grown again, prompting continued concerns. The Scottish NHS also faces severe backlogs, with thousands waiting over two to three years for outpatient appointments, and critics blaming the government for poor performance. The government emphasizes ongoing efforts to overhaul the NHS and address the inequities in healthcare access, while charities note that many patients resort to overseas treatment as a last option due to long delays at home.