Story perspectives
UK Patients Flee NHS Waitlists for Overseas Treatment
10/27/2025
46 8
1 of 1
Story summary
- A record number of British patients are seeking healthcare abroad due to long NHS waiting times.
- Over half a million left the UK for treatment last year, a 50% rise in two years.
- The NHS waiting list has reached 7.41 million.
- Destinations include Turkey, Poland, Romania, Portugal, India, and Italy, with hip and knee replacements, cataract surgery, and dental work.
- Regulation of foreign clinics varies, raising safety concerns upon return.
