Second opinions and planned care in India for patients from the UK

Start with a second opinion, not a flight

Sending your records for an opinion costs nothing in travel and may tell you that the plan you already have is right. Ask your GP or consultant for copies of your letters, imaging reports and test results; you are entitled to see your own records.

Pounds sterling and US dollar quotes

Estimates are in US dollars, so the pound figure depends on the exchange rate when you pay. Ask what is included, what is not, and what happens if an extra day in hospital is needed.

Insurance rarely follows you abroad

Private medical insurance and travel insurance often exclude planned treatment abroad. Read your policy and ask the insurer in writing before you commit. Ask also whether complications after you return home would be covered.

Time difference

India is 5 hours 30 minutes ahead of the UK, or 4 hours 30 minutes while British Summer Time applies. A video call at 3 p.m. in the UK is 8:30 p.m. in India outside summer time, so early-morning UK slots are the practical choice.

Continuity of care

Before you travel, tell your GP or consultant what you are planning. Ask them whether they will accept the Indian hospital letter, who would handle complications, and how follow-up scans or blood tests would be arranged on the NHS or privately.

Visa

Visa help is guidance only. The decision is made by the authorities, and requirements depend on your nationality and change over time. Check the current rules on the official Indian visa portal before you book anything. indianvisaonline.gov.in

Questions from the United Kingdom

How it works: you send records, a partner hospital gives an opinion and a written estimate, and you decide whether to travel. We do not publish a price for your treatment; any figure is a planning estimate until a hospital quotes in writing.