Around 58% of Brits feel the NHS should not fund corrective surgeries for complications resulting from overseas procedures in a new survey.
Almost seven in 10 (69%) also said that patients should ensure their own safety when seeking treatment overseas. A further 53% were unaware that corrective treatment is currently covered by the NHS.
Many respondents were worried unregulated promotions for overseas medical treatment and the risks of misinformation on the internet. Around 68% were concerned about misleading adverts on social media.
These figures result from a survey of 2,000 adults commissioned by Longevita, a UK-based cosmetic surgery facilitator.
Kagan Seymenoglu, CEO of Longevita, said: ‘The danger lies in the absence of clear, enforceable safeguards for UK patients seeking care abroad. Without proper accreditation, insurance, and continuity of aftercare, we leave patients exposed and place avoidable pressure on the NHS when things go wrong.’
Does the NHS have a duty to correct complications from overseas dentistry?
Speaking to Dentistry.co.uk, dentist Neel Kothari recently considered the ethics of the NHS correcting botched overseas dental procedures. He said: ‘On the one hand the public are already struggling to access services and may feel aggrieved if resources are diverted to treating this entirely avoidable situation.
‘But equally, those who are affected may feel their need for treatment is just as worthy as someone whose teeth have been damaged through excessive sugar intake and a lack of oral hygiene.’
He concluded: ‘Whilst some problems may be within the scope of NHS mandatory care, there is no doubt that most dentists will not feel competent, confident or adequately trained to tackle most of these cases. Even for the kindest souls amongst us who are desperate to help the plight of patients in difficulty, question marks must be raised as to whether this can be done within the auspices of NHS primary care.’
In 2025, specialist prosthodontist Morteza Mazinanian called for consideration of the fact that private dental providers may also wish to refuse corrective treatment. She said: ‘If a government body has the right to refuse to carry the cost burden of patient decision, the business should be able to do the same.
‘I, however, truly believe in dentistry being such a small world and usually business owner operated, these situations will be rare but the bigger corporates might have to deal with such issues. There is a human factor here and open communication always resolves these matters.’
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