Foreign office travel advice – sick OR injured

Foreign office travel advice: If you become sick or are injured abroad you should seek medical attention locally, if you are unwell or feel you need it. Your travel insurance should cover most medical expenses if you have taken out a comprehensive policy.

What we can’t do:
However the Foreign office cannot pay for your medical treatment or provide treatment ourselves.

See travel advice video at the bottom of page. Click here for a list of Foreign office Embassies and contact numbers.

If you are visiting EU countries such as Spain, then take out the The EHIC or The European Health Insurance Card : Which Can be used to cover any necessary medical treatment due to either an accident or illness within the European Economic Area and Switzerland.

Foreign office travel advice:

If you become ill or injured and have travelled with a tour guide or have a tour representative, you should contact them in the first instance if your condition is not too serious.

However, you should be aware that any healthcare arrangements made by a tour guide or representative may have been made with a private ambulance or hospital and only private insurance will cover any costs incurred in these circumstances.

Please be aware that medical facilities abroad may differ from those in the UK.

In hospital abroad

If you’re admitted to hospital abroad you should contact your nearest embassy.

What we can do to help:

• aim to contact you within 24 hours of being told that you have been admitted
• contact your family and friends in the UK
• liaise with your insurance company or medical evacuation company
• visit you within 48 hours of being told you have gone into hospital if we feel that this is appropriate to your circumstances and there is an Embassy or consulate in the same city as the hospital you are in.

We’ll take into account your condition, whether you have family and friends with you, whether you are with a tour company and the medical facilities available.

If you have been hospitalised as a result of an assault or other crime, we will aim to visit you as soon as possible.