UK patients flooding to Calais? Err... just 1

Despite UK media reports that ‘thousands of patients are being urged to get on ferries and the Eurostar’ for fast care in Calais as UK hospitals face a flu crisis – just one patient was actually treated there in January.

The UK shadow health minister was quoted accusing Prime Mi­­nister The­resa May of “shipping patients off to France”, saying they “deserve more than being forced to cross the Channel”.

The reality was more low-key. Calais Hospital spokesman Bertrand Hubert said national UK media interest was sparked after they sent a press release to a UK contact reminding them of the partnership they have with the NHS in South Kent.

In reality, however, on going to press they had treated just one patient in January 2018 and another was due to come for a consultation. They also had “around 15” email enquiries.

“The idea was simply to talk about the service we can offer – we’re competitive in terms of waiting times. But we can’t say that there are huge queues of British patients coming here.

“I should clarify we are offering surgery – hip replacements, shoulder fractures… We won’t be treating Britons for flu.”