What to Do in The Event of Accidents & Illness Abroad

You've been looking forward to your holiday for months, but what can you do if your dream trip turns into a nightmare through injury or sickness?

If You Are Taken Ill On Holiday

If you have booked a resort holiday, or are staying in a tourist hotel, you will probably find that there's a doctor on call. You might have to pay to see them, but if you have any concerns, it's better to err on the side of caution.

If you're not sure who to speak to, get in touch with your tour rep - they have all the local information and will know where you can find a doctor, or if necessary where the nearest hospital is.

If You Are In The EU

In the European Union (EU), you are entitled to healthcare at reduced cost or free, with the EHIC (European Health Insurance Card.) You should still always take out private health insurance as an EHIC won't always cover the entire cost of your treatment and certainly doesn't cover the cost of getting you back home.

The EHIC is usually valid for up to five years and it will cover any medical treatments that you may need while you are abroad, in an EU country. You'll be treated as if you were a national in the country you are taken ill in, which means that you can't expect to get everything you would get if you were ill in the UK - you might still have to pay for some of your treatment.

Insurance is Key

It's advisable to make sure you have adequate insurance - even if you're going to another EU country. Do you know whether your policy would cover you to be flown back to the UK if you needed treatment? It's worth finding this out from the start, as a serious injury could result in a long hospital stay in another country otherwise.

You should always take out as comprehensive an insurance policy as you can afford, and make sure that it covers most medical expenses. Some policies have a monetary limit to the amount they will pay out, and some have an excess, so again, check before you go.

If you're admitted to hospital abroad you should also make contact with the nearest British embassy for help and advice.

If The Illness Is The Fault of The Hotel

If you've booked a package holiday, you will be protected by the Package Travel Regulations - which state that if you suffer an injury in the hotel, or come down with food poisoning, they are legally responsible for your welfare and potentially compensation.

You would be within your rights to take legal action against the tour operator if this is the case, and you will have to be able to prove that they did not take reasonable care to prevent your accident or illness. With holidays, you can also claim for loss of enjoyment as well as any expenses you may have had to pay in order to get medical help.

You will probably find that you'll have to pay out up front for any treatment and claim the cost back later, so keep all of your receipts.

If you book the travel and accommodation separately yourself, the Package Travel Regulations don't apply.

If You Have An Accident While Abroad

If you're involved in an accident abroad, expect to have to cover the cost of any medical treatment yourself, and then claim it back later. Check your insurance cover and find out what you are entitled to, and if there's likely to be a lengthy stay in hospital make enquiries about repatriation too.

If you have an accident:

• Report the accident immediately to your holiday rep or someone in authority.
• Get hold of an accident book and make sure that the details are recorded.
• Take the details of any witnesses.
• Take photographs of the area the accident happened in, and evidence of any damage.
• Keep records of the dates of any visits you make to doctors, clinics or hospital, and any days where you had to do change plans because of the accident, such as missing an excursion or needing to pay for transport to hospital
• Keep all your receipts for anything medical or accident-related.

If You Need Help From the British Embassy

If you've been admitted to hospital overseas, a representative will contact you within 24 hours of being told that you have been admitted. They will then get in contact with your family and friends back in the UK, speak to your insurance company, and someone should also visit you within 48 hours if appropriate. They can't pay for your medical treatment, though.

If you are in hospital after an assault or another crime against you, someone will visit you as soon as possible.

Make sure you take adequate precautions with vaccinations, insurance and your EHIC - hopefully you won't ever need to use the medical facilities abroad, but if you do, make sure you don't end up paying huge sums of money for the privilege!