UK patients escape long NHS wait lists to seek treatment in UAE: Doctors, dentists

UK patients escape long NHS wait lists to seek treatment in UAE: Doctors, dentists

The waiting lists for routine surgeries on the UK’s National Health Service(NHS) have led to a surge in patients heading to the UAE for medical care.

A record number of people - more than 5.45 million - are currently waiting for treatment at NHS hospitalsin England, according to figures released last month, with many having joined the waiting list in recent weeks.

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While the UK health bodies are working more closely with general practitioners, pharmacists and other local health providers to try to reduce the number of patients requiring hospital treatment, dealing with new referrals and tackling the backlog are huge challenges.

For many, the potential two-year wait for treatment – such as a knee operation or hip replacement – is too long and they are looking to seek treatment at private facilities and turning to the Middle East where treatment is not only faster, but also cheaper than private care in the UK.

Circumventing UK delays

Dr Titty Mary Thomas, a specialist in family medicine at Bareen International Hospital, in MBZ City, Abu Dhabi who has treated patients flown into the UAE from the UK told Al Arabiya English that