Labour and Foreign Office issue rare joint warning over holidays to Turkey

The UK government has taken the rare step of issuing a warning over travelling to Turkey for cut-price surgery. Wes Streeting, the Labour Party Health Secretary, has urged people to “think very carefully” before flying overseas for Brazilian butt lifts, as the NHS is left to “pick up the pieces” of botched cosmetic surgery.

The health secretary has spoken out after a string of deaths among British patients who have travelled to Turkey to undergo cut-price surgery Steeting said he was taking the issue “very seriously”, adding: “I’m determined to work with international partners to try and improve safety for Brits abroad.”

He said: “My strong advice to British travellers is: if the offer looks too good to be true, I suspect it is too good to be true. Think very carefully before flying overseas paying what looks a rock-bottom attractive price, because you may end up paying the consequences for years to come.”

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Streeting said: “The NHS is never going to turn away people who are in need of care, but this is another pressure that the NHS doesn’t need.” Professor Sir Stephen Powis, NHS national medical director, said: “The NHS will always be there for those who need it, but should not be left to pick up the pieces of botched BBLs.

“Not only are they potentially fatal, having the highest death rate of all cosmetic procedures, but dodgy tweakments and surgeries are leaving the NHS to repair the damage and taxpayers to foot the bill. I’d urge anyone considering a BBL to think twice before taking up an offer that seems too good to be true.”

According to the Foreign Office website, “the standard of medical facilities and available treatments can vary widely globally and also within countries”. As well as deaths, it said “some British nationals have also experienced complications and needed further treatment or surgery following their procedure”.