Lost in translation – getting medical help abroad when you don’t speak the language

There’s nothing quite like that feeling of pre-holiday excitement. From the moment you book your flights to that first drink at the airport bar, the anticipation builds. You research local restaurants and hidden gems. You make an itinerary and book daytrips. You may even learn a few key words or phrases to help you get around while you’re away. 

But, while you may feel confident ordering a drink or asking for the bill while on holiday, would you be able to explain a health issue or understand medical advice? 

Our recent study of 2,000 adults found that only a third of travellers feel that they’d be confident explaining a medical issue to a doctor when abroad.  

That's why we introduced our Travel Doctor* service. Free for all Staysure customers, Travel Doctor allows you to book a video call with an English-speaking doctor or arrange an in-person appointment at a local clinic. So, if you’ve not had time to brush up on the local lingo, you can be reassured that – if you do feel unwell while you’re away – a language barrier won’t stand between you and the help you need.  

How do you think your language skills would hold up if you had to ask for medical help in a foreign language? Could you tell the difference between food and the flu? The hotel or the hospital? Toothache and the toilet? Take our quick quiz and find out if you’re a tactical translator or just lost in translation: 

How did you do? Share your results with your travel companions on Facebook and get them to take the quiz and put their translation skills to the test too.  

In our recent study of 2,000 adults, just 5% said they’d learn key medical phrases before heading off. We get it. The idea of feeling unwell is the last thing you want to think about when you’re looking forward to getting away. We all like to plan ahead, but – short of packing paracetamol – you don’t plan a headache.

Your travel insurance covers you for a range of issues and helps you travel with confidence. But, if you do feel unwell when you’re away, you need to be able to tell someone.

Our study shows that language is one of the biggest barriers when falling ill on holiday. In fact, the uncertainty around being able to communicate a medical problem is the number one concern people have when travelling to places where they don’t speak the local language. 

• Only 28% thought they’d be able to understand medical advice. 
• 61% couldn’t ask for a new prescription in another language. 
• 63% said they wouldn’t know how to explain they were having an allergic reaction.  

Worryingly, 13% said they’d even put off seeking help for a medical issue because of a language barrier or not knowing how to get help in a different country. 

We all find different ways to communicate while we’re away. Pointing at the menu. Making hand gestures. Using translation tools on our phones.  

Most seasoned travellers and regular holidaymakers find a way to get their message across. 73% feel they could happily order a drink when abroad, and 64% could confidently ask where the toilet is but, when it comes to discussing health concerns, the stakes are higher. There’s a big difference between getting the wrong drink and being given the wrong prescription. 

• 42% admit to not feeling prepared to deal with a non-emergency medical issue when they’re away. 
• 37% rely on translation tools. 
• 12% would ask AI to get by. 
• 70% use hand signals or gestures  
• 10% speak slowly in English and 9% would ask someone else to translate. 

We can’t be prepared for every eventuality, but these results suggest that it’s worth trying to learn a few key health-related phrases, especially if you have a specific condition or take medication.  

Whether you’re a natural linguist or it’s all Greek to you, speaking to a pharmacist or doctor when there’s a language barrier can be daunting. Even if you’ve taken time to learn a few key phrases, the words might escape you – especially if you’re feeling unwell. 

Our free 24/7 Travel Doctor* service is here to give you that extra layer of confidence. Now you know that – if you do feel unwell on holiday – you’re just a few clicks away from the care you need in a language you understand. No more relying on translation tools or hoping to find an English-speaking local to help you. 

Staysure’s Travel Doctor is a free, 24/7 service where you can book a video call with an English-speaking doctor or dentist in multiple worldwide locations. Or, if you need in-person medical assistance, it helps you find a local clinic for treatment abroad.  

Travel Doctor is included with your Staysure travel insurance policy and is often the fastest way to get medical advice when you’re abroad and unsure what to do. It lets you skip the language barrier and get the advice or appointment you need – all from the comfort of your hotel room.

Travel Doctor is ideal for non-emergency medical issues. You can use it for things like: 

• minor injuries, like sprains or small cuts 
• sudden but mild illnesses, including a fever or a stomach upset 
• rashes or a bad reaction to a bite 
• help with questions you have about your medication, including how to get a prescription 
• specialist outpatient care, such as orthopaedics or gynaecology. 

We’ve already seen 50% of customers who use the service opt for a video consultation with an English-speaking doctor to minimise their stress and get the help they need. 

Travel doctor isn’t designed to replace emergency care, so you should still call the local emergency number or go to the nearest hospital for anything more serious, like chest pain, major injuries, signs of a stroke or anything that feels life-threatening. 

Travel Doctor is included with all of our Staysure travel insurance policies. Here’s a quick step-by-step on how to register, access and use the service: 

• 1. Register – You need to register with the Travel Doctor service before you travel, so it’s ready for you to use if you end up needing to get medical support abroad. When you buy a Staysure policy, you’ll get a registration link on your confirmation screen and in your welcome email. You can also call our customer services to request the link.  
• 2. Access the service – You access the service via an app that you can download to your phone during the registration process. It detects your location or lets you search by area. You can then filter the available clinicians by speciality, language and distance. 
• 3. Book your appointment – You can choose between a secure video appointment, an in-person visit at a nearby clinic or an appointment at your accommodation (where offered). Just pick a time that suits you and send your request. You’ll receive confirmation via the app, depending on the doctor’s availability. 
• 4. Attend your appointment – Join your video call or attend your appointment at the agreed time. You won’t usually need to complete any claim forms for the consultation and any billing is taken care of between us and the doctor.   

For full details on how Travel Doctor works with your Staysure travel insurance policy, including T&Cs and some handy FAQs, visit our Travel Doctor page. 

And, if you haven’t sorted your travel insurance yet, get a quick quote now.  

Get a quote

^{*Travel Doctor is powered by Air Doctor. Up to 3 appointments per insured person, per policy. Geographical restrictions and T&Cs apply.} 

^{Travel Doctor isn’t available for trips taken in the UK and is only available for international travel. Availability may vary by destination.}