10 Things Every UK Tourist Should Do If They Get Sick Abroad

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You’re three days into your holiday in Barcelona and you can barely get out of bed. Or you’re in Bali and what started as an upset stomach has turned into something you can’t shake. Getting sick abroad is more common than most people want to admit — and the difference between handling it well and turning it into an absolute nightmare almost always comes down to knowing what to do and in what order. Here are the ten things that actually matter.

1. Call Your Travel Insurer First — Not a Local Doctor

This is the single most important step and the one most people skip in a panic. Your insurer’s 24/7 emergency helpline is your first call — before you Google clinics, before you ask the hotel receptionist, before you do anything else. They will direct you to an approved medical facility, arrange cashless treatment wherever possible, and make sure the costs are properly documented from the start. Going rogue and choosing your own doctor or clinic can invalidate your claim entirely, particularly if the insurer considers it an unnecessary or overpriced choice. The number should be saved in your phone before you fly.

2. Know the Local Emergency Number Before You Land

In the EU, the emergency number is 112. In the US and Canada it’s 911. In Thailand it’s 1669. In Australia it’s 000. In Japan it’s 119 for ambulance. These are not numbers you want to be searching for when you’re already unwell or frightened. Look up the emergency number for every country on your itinerary before you leave and save them in your phone — it takes two minutes and you genuinely hope you’ll never need them.

3. Tell Someone Back Home What Is Happening

Contact a family member or close friend in the UK so that someone at home knows your situation, your exact location and the name of the medical facility you’re attending. If things escalate — if you end up hospitalised or unable to communicate — having a designated person at home who is already up to speed makes everything easier. They can liaise with your insurer, contact the FCDO consular team if needed, and act as your point of contact without having to piece together your situation from scratch.

4. Get Written Documentation of Absolutely Everything

From the very first appointment, ask for written documentation: a medical report, an itemised receipt for every treatment or medication, and the full name of every doctor or nurse who sees you. Your insurer will need this paperwork to process your claim, and foreign hospitals can be genuinely difficult to chase weeks or months after the fact. If your phone is working, photograph every document before you hand anything back. If you’re admitted overnight, ask for a discharge summary before you leave.

5. Use Your GHIC Card If You’re in Europe

The Global Health Insurance Card entitles UK citizens to state-provided healthcare in EU countries on the same basis as local residents. It won’t replace your travel insurance and it doesn’t cover private treatment or repatriation, but it can significantly reduce your out-of-pocket costs if you need emergency care in the EU. Check that your card is valid before every trip — it has an expiry date — and apply for a free replacement at NHSBSA.NHS.uk if it’s lapsed. EU countries with state healthcare systems include France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece and Germany, among others.

6. Don’t Agree to Extra Procedures Without Checking With Your Insurer

In some popular tourist destinations, private clinics have a well-documented reputation for recommending unnecessary or inflated treatments to foreign patients with insurance. If a doctor suggests additional tests, procedures or an extended stay that feels excessive relative to your symptoms, pause before agreeing. Call your insurer, explain what’s been recommended, and ask for their guidance. Most insurers have medical teams who can advise on whether a proposed treatment is appropriate. It’s not rude to ask — it’s sensible.

7. Contact the British Consulate or Embassy If Things Are Serious

If you are seriously ill or hospitalised abroad, the FCDO’s consular team can provide genuine practical help. They can’t pay your medical bills, but they can help you navigate a foreign healthcare or legal system, contact your family on your behalf, provide a list of local English-speaking doctors and lawyers, and support you if you’re facing barriers to accessing care. You can find the contact details for UK embassies and consulates worldwide at GOV.UK — save the number for your destination before you travel.

8. Keep All Medication in Its Original Labelled Packaging

If you need to attend a clinic or hospital while abroad, having your regular medication in its original packaging with the pharmacy label intact makes it far easier for foreign medical staff to identify what you’re taking, check for interactions with any treatment they want to give you, and understand your dosage. Decanting pills into a weekly pill organiser is fine at home, but travel with the original boxes too — or at minimum carry a clear list of every medication, the generic drug name (not just the brand name), and the dose.

9. Know the Difference Between Urgent Care and A&E Abroad

Walking into the A&E equivalent of a foreign hospital with a non-life-threatening illness often means an extremely long wait, significant administrative confusion and a large bill — even in countries with good healthcare systems. For most illnesses that are uncomfortable but not emergencies, look for urgent care clinics, pharmacies with consultation services, or your insurer’s recommended local GP equivalent. In many countries, pharmacists can diagnose and treat common conditions that in the UK would require a GP appointment — and this is often the fastest and most cost-effective route for stomach bugs, minor infections and similar issues.

10. Flag It to Your Insurer Even If You Don’t Make a Claim

If you recover quickly and decide not to bother with a claim for a minor illness, still let your insurer know you were unwell. Some conditions that seem minor in the moment can turn out to be something more significant once you’re home — and if you return to the UK with symptoms you didn’t flag while abroad, it can complicate both your claim and your medical treatment. A quick call or email to your insurer noting the date, location and nature of your illness takes minutes and protects you if the situation develops further down the line.