Britons Go Abroad For Healthcare

While Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards was outBut what happens when you fall ill abroad? One of the
marching to protest against NHS plans to downgradelargest holiday resort companies on the Costa del Sol,
his local hospital in Chichester a few weekends ago -Club La Costa, offers onsite medical care at its
aptly named St. Richard's - record numbers of BritonsCalifornia Beach Resort near Mijas. Now, thanks to a
continue to fly abroad for medical treatment.new contract negotiated between the modern, high
Last year Britons spent £60m on overseastech Xanit Hospital in Benalmadena which opened in
treatments. Main reasons were lower prices, NHS2006, and Club La Costa, the hospital's state-of-the-art
waiting lists, a better choice of alternative medicalfacilities and highly trained medical staff are available to
treatments and cosmetic surgery clinics such as thoseboth CLC members and staff in Spain.
in Marbella where many patients choose to combineRichard Fletcher, Resort Director at Club La Costa
procedures with a break in the sun to return homeResorts & Hotels, said: "We've always made it a
looking better on the outside and feeling better on thepriority to have medical provision on site, but our new
inside. With many increasingly concerned about the riseagreement with Xanit means that should any of our
in hospital superbugs, more people are also choosing tomembers need medical treatment while on holiday, not
recuperate overseas in a warmer climate followingonly do we have access to one of the top hospitals in
surgery.southern Spain, it's literally minutes away."
Market researchers Mintel recently reported moneyAs for alternative therapies and keep-fit, Britons seem
spent by Britons going abroad for treatments willto be increasingly looking overseas for a better deal.
increase 150% by 2011. According to the survey aLast year, Britons spent about £25m on going
quarter of Britons would seriously considerabroad for yoga holidays, holistic healing, health farms
recuperating abroad after an operation and one inbeauty treatments and spa visits, according to the
eight would go overseas for surgery.Mintel report.
'This sector (medical tourism) is a thriving industry as aSpain is one of the most visited destinations in Europe
growing number of well-off baby boomers take theirfor surgery, especially for patients who want to
health needs into their own hands and pursue the elixircombine medical treatment with a wellness holiday;
of eternal youth,' said Richard Cope, senior Mintelalso popular are Hungary, Turkey, Germany and
analyst.Poland.