More than 2,000 British holidaymakers have confirmed that their top fear when travelling abroad is 'getting ill and ending up in a foreign hospital', according to new, independent research from travel assistance service, i-interpret4u (www.i-interpret4u.co.uk). These findings are also reflective of recent headlines which revealed that some EU hospitals are more concerned with money than medicine as UK taxpayers who have the misfortune to need emergency treatment while abroad are being ripped off or indeed, turned away if they don't have adequate travel insurance.  Yet many British travellers still travel overseas without travel insurance.

A nation of worriers - 83% of UK holidaymakers confirm they do worry about going on holiday abroad leaving just a very small proportion (17%) completely at ease with the idea. Respondents were asked to name their top three fears when holidaying abroad - the majority of people cited getting ill and ending up in a foreign hospital as their biggest fear. In second place was the prospect of losing your passport, followed by losing your luggage as the third most popular answer.

Michael French, Director at i-interpret4u said "Our research findings do show that there are a number of elements we need to consider when travelling abroad; it's certainly not enough to simply 'worry' about it and hope for the best, because as we all know travelling overseas completely unprepared is really just a 'fear' waiting to become a reality.

Travellers will often think that it can't happen to them; sadly it does and ensuring you have taken out adequate, not the cheapest travel insurance is of course important, particularly with the recent news that some hospitals abroad won't treat patients from the UK without it - and for less than the cost of a bottle of good wine, there's no real excuse for travelling uncovered. 

Becoming ill or injured and ending up in a hospital overseas may be a worst case scenario, but it's by no means an impossible one. It does happen and it probably happens more often than you think. But travel insurance is not the only consideration here, there are other aspects such as doing your own research before you leave home, considering hurdles such as language barriers and how being able to communicate in a crisis might actually save you time, money and keep you safe if you find yourself in an A&E waiting room in the Far East for example.  If we're at least half-way prepared for the 'worst case' scenario, it won't seem nearly as scary should the unthinkable happen".

ENDS

About i-interpret4u (www.i-interpret4u.co.uk)

i-interpret4u provides an easy to use, personal telephone interpreting service for those facing a language barrier whilst living, travelling or doing business overseas. The service connects users to live, qualified and highly experienced interpreters in 85 languages, 24/7, generally in less than one minute. When face-to-face with a non-English speaker the service can be used from a landline or mobile using a speakerphone, or, by passing the handset back and forth.  i-interpret4u can also assist users in setting up a three-way call to a non-English speaker worldwide.

A range of pay plans are available to suit individual needs, calls are charged by the second for the time that the interpreter is on the line and an entry level subscription of ten pounds will allow users 12-months access to the service. Smart phone users can also access the service and manage their account via the free iPhone or Android app.

Notes to editors

 
Photography is available to accompany the story (foreign doctors and Brit families)

Research source: Independently commissioned by Censuswide for i-interpret4u. 

Total of 2,005 UK respondents completed the survey.

Multiple choice answers (tick all that apply) - What are your top three worries when travelling abroad?

Regional, age and gender breakdowns available.

For further information please contact:
Natalie Sanderson
Tel: 01256 811808
Email: natalie@sublimepr.co.uk