29-May-2007
Patients are being forced to travel abroad in order to receive medical treatment as the NHS struggles to keep its finances afloat, it has emerged.
One such patient, 52-year-old Sylvia Clarke, travelled to Poland for a stomach operation after local doctors told her she was ineligible for treatment on the NHS.
Having lost more than six stone in weight, Ms Clarke was left with excess skin around her waist which caused great discomfort as it rubbed along the top of her legs.
The former finance worker told the Norwich Evening News: "I was told by the NHS my body mass index (BMI) was not low enough to have the operation, but I couldn't afford to do it privately.
"I found this company on the internet and it was the best thing I have ever done."
Treatment at a private clinic in the UK would have cost in the region of £9,000, but Ms Clarke was able to travel to Poland for the operation at a total cost of little over £2,000.
Ms Clarke described the treatment she received as "amazing" and said that, despite being upset that she had been forced to seek treatment abroad, she "would recommend it to anyone".
More and more British people are choosing to travel to Poland for cosmetic surgery and private dentistry, attracted mainly by the low prices and use of modern technologies.