Sick Brits provided low cost operations in European vacation hotspots to flee NHS backlog
Desperate Brits can now bypass the NHS backlog by using a new platform to book cheaper surgery in European holiday hotspots with ‘Buy Now, Pay Later’ finance
Desperate Brits stuck on NHS waiting lists can now jet off for reduced-rate operations in Europe(Image: Getty Images/Tetra images RF)
Desperate Brits stuck on NHS waiting lists can now jet off for reduced-rate operations in Europe in as little as six weeks. A new medical platform has launched to help the thousands of patients suffering in silence because they can’t afford sky-high UK private healthcare.
More than half a million Brits went abroad for surgery last year as the NHS backlog spiralled to a staggering 7.11 million.
But while many have been afraid of the paperwork and costs of going abroad, a new digital marketplace called My Medical Gateway (MMG) promises to make booking a hip replacement as easy as booking a summer holiday.
The tech platform connects suffering patients directly to accredited private hospitals across Europe, offering treatments for up to 50 per cent cheaper than UK private clinics.
Patients can browse 49 different procedures, from heart surgery to knee replacements, across 13 hospitals in popular hotspots like Spain, Malta, Greece and Cyprus.
MMG spokesperson Sara Gezdari said: “Our mission is to create a trusted online gateway that empowers individuals to take greater control of their healthcare journey.
“Trying to find a quality hospital abroad at the right price can be a long and difficult process, but My Medical Gateway has done the work for you to make getting back to yourself fast, with no fuss.”
According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the number of Brits seeking medical treatment abroad more than doubled from 234,000 in 2021 to a whopping 523,000 in 2024.
To help patients fund their care, the platform has teamed up with Klarna to offer interest-free “Buy Now, Pay Later” finance, alongside bespoke medical travel insurance.
Every hospital on the site is fully licensed and regulated within the EU. The medical packages are completely fixed-price with no hidden fees, covering everything from the surgery and hospital stay to 90 days of follow-up care.
Sir Mark Worthington, a member of MMG’s Advisory Board, added: “Healthcare should not be defined by geography. If a patient willing to self-pay can receive the same consultant-led treatment in an accredited European hospital within weeks and at substantially lower cost, they deserve to know about that option.”
