Today

A growing number of Brits are travelling abroad for medical treatment, a recent poll by website TreatmentAbroad.com shows.

An estimated 100,000 people travelled abroad for surgery and dental treatment in 2007, according to the survey.

Saving cash is the top reason for people seeking treatment overseas, stated by 83 per cent of those asked.

In addition, a large number of patients said they had travelled abroad to avoid NHS waiting lists (63 per cent) or because they were worried about the risk of infections such as MRSA (56 per cent) in the UK.

The poll also illustrates how the experiences of 'medical tourists' are resoundingly positive, with 97 per cent of patients willing to travel abroad for treatment again.

The research shows a wide variance in the amount of money patients are spending on treatment, with around 6 per cent spending in excess of £10,000.

Keith Pollard, TreatmentAbroad.com: "Our research shows undoubtedly that whether patients are travelling to Hungary for dentistry over the weekend or to Spain for cosmetic surgery and a two week holiday, they are having positive experiences."

Nearly 10 per cent of people said that they had saved as much as £10,000 by travelling abroad.

Keith Pollard, managing director of TreatmentAbroad.com, said "A range of treatment and location options are now available and patients are travelling across the globe for a range of treatments including cosmetic and elective surgery, dentistry and fertility treatment."

The survey, of nearly 650 patients who had treatments overseas in 2007, also found that it is not only women who are travelling abroad for treatment, 40 per cent of those responding were male.

Nearly 95 per cent of cosmetic surgery patients were female, while 69 per cent of those having elective surgery and scans were male.

The majority of people choosing to have treatment abroad are aged between 40 and 59.

The top destinations for treatment include Hungary, predominantly for dental treatment, Cyprus, for cosmetic surgery and India, for surgery and scans. Spain, Belgium and the Czech Republic are also among the most popular destinations, the poll found.

Although cost is the main motivator for travelling abroad, it has less influence in the selection of a treatment provider.

The most important consideration here was the quality of the health professionals (88 per cent), followed by quality of facilities (85 per cent) and a positive reputation of the clinic (77 per cent).

Mr Pollard added: "There is a lot of misconception about the quality and experiences of medical tourists.

"Our research shows undoubtedly that whether patients are travelling to Hungary for dentistry over the weekend or to Spain for cosmetic surgery and a two week holiday, they are having positive experiences.

"The quality and range of treatment available, coupled with the cost benefits, means that having overseas treatment is now a real option for many people."