Write down the decision you want help with
For example: I want to know which records to prepare, how to compare specialist appointments and costs, or how to arrange follow-up after care in China.
Planning medical care in China from the United Kingdom
Prepare NHS and private records, imaging, medication documents, insurance questions, and a planned China specialist request from the UK.
Prepare my caseExplore practical patient guides
Make your first conversation useful
Bring a short care timeline and list the NHS and private providers involved. Give your preferred call times with the date and UK time zone, and identify the decision you want the consultation to help you make.
Keep a short planning note ready
Note your city, preferred language, contact times, possible appointment dates and which reports you have or have requested. Send medical files through the secure case channel.
Where to request your records
Make a separate list for GP, NHS hospital and private-provider records. Request each part from the organisation that holds it, so the receiving team can follow your care across providers.
Ask your GP practice for the relevant history, current medicines and referral information.
Contact the hospital records team for specialist letters, discharge summaries and procedure reports.
Request the original imaging study and report from the hospital or imaging provider.
State whether your records are from England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland when asking about the request process.
Set out payment and travel arrangements
Tell your insurer that the purpose of the trip is planned treatment in China. Ask separately about the planned procedure, complications, medical evacuation and existing conditions. Keep any funding or authorization decision with the provider estimate.
Get an itemized hospital estimate with currency, expiry date and payee.
Keep the insurer’s written response, your own payment share and the claim-document list together.
Put appointment dates, length of stay, language and companion needs on one itinerary.
Discuss the itinerary, travel preparation and medicines with your usual clinician.
Check passport, entry-document and medicine requirements before booking.
Illustrative coordination scenario
This is a constructed educational example. It does not describe a real patient and is not a testimonial, recommendation, or outcome claim.
- Situation
- An adult in Manchester is exploring a planned cardiology consultation in China after NHS and private assessments.
- What is missing
- The GP medication list is current, but the NHS trust holds the latest echocardiogram while a private clinic holds an earlier procedure report. No complete DICOM export or insurer response has been obtained.
- Coordination next step
- Separate requests are sent to each record holder. The packet is indexed by date, and travel, medicine, insurance, and clinical-readiness questions remain open until confirmed by the responsible parties.
Arrange care after you return
Discuss aftercare with your GP or usual specialist before travelling. Ask which discharge reports, medicine changes and follow-up recommendations they need, and how to arrange your next appointment.
Useful links for records and travel
Use these links when requesting records, preparing insurance questions and arranging travel documents.
Updated: · Editorial and review information · Contact the team
UK patient planning questions
What should I prepare for the first conversation?
Bring a short care timeline and list the NHS and private providers involved. Give your preferred call times with the date and UK time zone, and identify the decision you want the consultation to help you make.
Can I start while some records are still missing?
Make a list of the reports you have, the missing items and the providers you have contacted. Start with the question you want answered, then use the receiving team’s checklist to complete the packet before clinical review.
How should I prepare for insurance and self-payment?
Tell your insurer that the purpose of the trip is planned treatment in China. Ask separately about the planned procedure, complications, medical evacuation and existing conditions. Keep any funding or authorization decision with the provider estimate.
How do I connect this with care at home?
Discuss aftercare with your GP or usual specialist before travelling. Ask which discharge reports, medicine changes and follow-up recommendations they need, and how to arrange your next appointment.
Coordinate records held across UK services
Build one dated inventory of GP, NHS trust, private provider, imaging, and medication records before requesting review.