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Responses > NHS Treatment of Botched Overseas Surgeries

Freedom of Information request NHS Treatment of Botched Overseas Surgeries

Response published: 8 April 2025

FOI Request

I am submitting this request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to obtain data on NHS treatment of complications arising from surgical procedures performed overseas. Request Details 1. NHS Admissions for Complications Following Overseas Surgeries • The total number of hospital admissions where the NHS has treated patients for complications resulting from surgeries conducted abroad. • A yearly breakdown from January 2020 to January 2025 (or the most recent available period). 2. Breakdown of Patients Treated For each year, please provide where available: • Age group of patients (e.g.: under 18, 18-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65+). • Gender of patients. 3. Data Classified Under Relevant ICD-10 Codes (or their NHS equivalents): Please provide a breakdown of cases recorded under the following ICD-10 codes related to complications of surgical procedures: • T81 – Complications of procedures (e.g., infections, wound disruption, foreign bodies left in the body). • T82-T85 – Complications of prosthetic devices, implants, and grafts. • T86 – Failure and rejection of transplanted organs and tissues. • T87 – Complications of amputations and reattachments. • T88 – Other complications of surgical and medical care (including anaesthesia-related complications). • Y60-Y69 – Surgical errors and misadventures (e.g., accidental punctures, foreign objects left inside patients, failure of sterile precautions, inappropriate procedures). • Y70-Y79 – Medical devices associated with adverse incidents. • Y83-Y84 – Abnormal patient reactions or complications following surgery or other medical procedures. 4. Specific Details on Procedures Leading to NHS Admissions Where available, please provide: • The type of surgery the patient originally underwent abroad (e.g., cosmetic surgery, weight loss surgery, orthopaedic surgery, dental work, etc.). • The intended purpose of the surgery (e.g., aesthetic enhancement, weight loss, joint replacement, reconstructive surgery, etc.). • The type of complication requiring NHS intervention (e.g., infection, implant failure, excessive bleeding, wound breakdown, nerve damage, sepsis). 5. NHS Cost of Treating Complications from Overseas Surgeries • The total annual cost incurred by the NHS in treating complications from overseas surgeries. • If available, an estimated breakdown of costs by procedure type.

FOI Response

Freedom of Information Request – Ref: FOI 412-2025

Thank you for your recent Freedom of Information request. Please find our response below.

You asked:

I am submitting this request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to obtain data on NHS treatment of complications arising from surgical procedures performed overseas.

Request Details

  1. NHS Admissions for Complications Following Overseas Surgeries
  • The total number of hospital admissions where the NHS has treated patients for complications resulting from surgeries conducted abroad.
  • A yearly breakdown from January 2020 to January 2025 (or the most recent available period).
  1. Breakdown of Patients Treated

For each year, please provide where available:

  • Age group of patients(e.g.: under 18, 18-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65+).
  • Gender of patients.
  1. Data Classified Under Relevant ICD-10 Codes (or their NHS equivalents):

Please provide a breakdown of cases recorded under the following ICD-10 codes related to complications of surgical procedures:

  • T81– Complications of procedures (e.g., infections, wound disruption, foreign bodies left in the body).
  • T82-T85– Complications of prosthetic devices, implants, and grafts.
  • T86– Failure and rejection of transplanted organs and tissues.
  • T87– Complications of amputations and reattachments.
  • T88– Other complications of surgical and medical care (including anaesthesia-related complications).
  • Y60-Y69– Surgical errors and misadventures (e.g., accidental punctures, foreign objects left inside patients, failure of sterile precautions, inappropriate procedures).
  • Y70-Y79– Medical devices associated with adverse incidents.
  • Y83-Y84– Abnormal patient reactions or complications following surgery or other medical procedures.
  1. Specific Details on Procedures Leading to NHS Admissions

Where available, please provide:

  • The type of surgery the patient originally underwent abroad(e.g., cosmetic surgery, weight loss surgery, orthopaedic surgery, dental work, etc.).
  • The intended purpose of the surgery(e.g., aesthetic enhancement, weight loss, joint replacement, reconstructive surgery, etc.).
  • The type of complication requiring NHS intervention(e.g., infection, implant failure, excessive bleeding, wound breakdown, nerve damage, sepsis).
  1. NHS Cost of Treating Complications from Overseas Surgeries
  • The total annual cost incurred by the NHS in treating complications from overseas surgeries.
  • If available, an estimated breakdown of costs by procedure type.

Our response:

The Trust does not hold the information requested. Please contact Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Next steps:

Should you have any queries in relation to our response, please do not hesitate to contact us. If you are unhappy with the response you have received in relation to your request and wish to ask us to review our response, you should write to:

Louise Moss
Head of Legal Services / Associate Director of Corporate Governance
c/o Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust
Edward Jenner Court
1010 Pioneer Avenue
Gloucester Business Park
Brockworth, GL3 4AW
E-mail: louise.moss@ghc.nhs.uk

If you are not content with the outcome of any review, you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) for further advice/guidance. Generally, the ICO will not consider your case unless you have exhausted your enquiries with the Trust which should include considering the use of the Trust’s formal complaints procedure. The ICO can be contacted at: The Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF.