Frequently Asked Questions
Updated: 5 July 2026
About My Medical Gateway
What is My Medical Gateway?
My Medical Gateway (MMG) is a digital healthcare marketplace that helps UK patients compare, select and book private treatment at accredited hospitals across the European Union. We combine transparent pricing, accredited healthcare providers and end-to-end treatment pathway management to make accessing treatment abroad straightforward, predictable and secure.
Why are patients using MMG?
Millions of patients across the UK are waiting for NHS treatment. Many others find UK private healthcare beyond their budget. MMG helps patients access consultant-led care more quickly, compare transparent fixed-price Treatment Packages and follow a professionally managed treatment pathway through accredited hospitals across the European Union.
The MMG Difference
Why is MMG different from booking directly with a hospital?
MMG provides independent patient support, fixed-price comparison, pathway management and guaranteed contractual service commitments from accredited hospitals, rather than simply introducing you to a provider.
Does MMG work for the hospital or the patient?
MMG is engaged directly by our patients: we are not paid by healthcare providers to promote particular hospitals. This allows MMG to focus exclusively on helping patients understand their options and choose the treatment pathway that best suits them.
What does “certainty” mean in the MMG process?
Certainty means transparent pricing, defined treatment package inclusions, priority clinical review, guaranteed treatment date options after clinical clearance and clear points of contact throughout the journey.
What is “the MMG Difference”?
The MMG Difference is the combination of independent patient support, accredited hospitals, fixed-price treatment packages, contractual service commitments and end-to-end pathway management.
Medical travel and safety
Is it safe to have surgery abroad?
Yes. My Medical Gateway works exclusively with fully licensed and regulated private hospitals within the European Union. Every provider goes through a structured accreditation process, including assessments of full licensing, regulatory compliance, insurer accreditation and clinical performance. Hospitals with unresolved sanctions or regulatory concerns are not accepted onto the platform.
What is medical travel?
Medical travel involves going abroad for healthcare, typically to access faster treatment or more competitive pricing than is available domestically.
Treatments and availability
What treatments can I book with My Medical Gateway?
MMG currently offers 50 elective procedures across 8 specialties, including orthopaedics, general surgery, ENT and ophthalmology. The list focuses on high-demand treatments and continues to expand.
How quickly can I be treated in Europe?
Once your diagnosis is confirmed, your chosen MMG accredited hospital will offer you three treatment dates within the following six weeks.
Who can use MMG?
Currently, MMG's services are available to permanent residents of the United Kingdom. We plan to expand access to other countries in the future.
Pricing and Treatment Packages
How much does surgery abroad cost?
Treatment through MMG is typically 20–50% lower than equivalent private surgery in the UK, depending on the procedure and provider.
What is included in the price?
All treatments are offered as a fixed-price, all-inclusive Treatment Package, which includes:
- Remote diagnosis
- Pre-operative checks in-country
- The procedure and hospital stay
- Post-operative care, including physiotherapy where clinically required
- A remote follow-up review within 90 days
The package does not include travel to/from the country of treatment, accommodation and sustenance (except for hospital stay) and your diagnostic tests in the UK.
Is rehabilitation and physiotherapy included?
Where clinically appropriate, yes. MMG's Accredited Healthcare Providers include post-operative rehabilitation and physiotherapy as an integral part of the Treatment Package to help patients get back on their feet and reduce the risk of complications. The exact level of rehabilitation varies according to the treatment, hospital and clinical requirements, and full details are provided before you confirm your booking.
Can I arrange additional rehabilitation or physiotherapy after my treatment?
Absolutely. Your MMG Treatment Package includes the post-operative rehabilitation and physiotherapy that your clinical team considers necessary to help you recover safely and get back on your feet. However, if you would like to extend your rehabilitation beyond the care included in your package, you are welcome to arrange additional physiotherapy directly with your hospital.
Your MMG coordinator will be happy to facilitate these discussions, and any additional sessions will simply be charged by the hospital at its normal private rates.
Why do MMG Treatment Packages often include more than UK private hospital packages?
Many European private hospitals take a more integrated approach to patient care. Rather than focusing solely on the surgical procedure, they often regard rehabilitation, physiotherapy and post-operative support as essential elements of achieving the best possible clinical outcome. By contrast, many UK private hospitals price the surgical episode separately, with post-operative physiotherapy, rehabilitation and other support services often charged as additional extras.
MMG's approach is designed to give patients a clearer understanding of the total cost of treatment while supporting a safe recovery and helping to reduce the risk of complications or readmission.
Are there hidden costs?
No. All MMG Treatment Package prices are clearly defined upfront, allowing you to compare providers on a like-for-like basis. Your package will set out exactly what is included so there are no surprises. Find out what's included in a complete treatment journey.
VAT information
In most cases, medical consultations, diagnostic procedures and surgical treatments provided by accredited hospitals in the UK and the European Union are exempt from VAT. The prices shown on the MMG platform are therefore generally not subject to VAT unless otherwise stated.
MMG hospitals
What is an MMG Accredited Hospital?
An MMG Accredited Hospital is a private hospital that has successfully completed MMG's clinical, operational and commercial onboarding process and has signed a formal Healthcare Provider Agreement (HPA) with us. Each Accredited Hospital has agreed to provide fixed-price Treatment Packages, meet our service standards and participate in our patient pathway, including timely clinical review, coordinated care and post-operative follow-up.
Our Accredited Hospitals are carefully selected for their clinical expertise, international reputation, quality standards and ability to deliver consultant-led care to UK patients. Many also hold internationally recognised accreditations and have extensive experience treating patients from overseas.
For complete transparency, you can also read here the Provider Terms & Conditions that every MMG Accredited Hospital is contractually required to comply with: https://www.mymedicalgateway.com/mmg-hospital-tcs
What contractual commitments do MMG Accredited Hospitals make?
Every MMG Accredited Healthcare Provider (AHP) signs a legally binding Healthcare Provider Agreement (HPA) that sets out the standards it must meet before it can offer Treatment Packages through the MMG platform.
These commitments include providing transparent fixed-price Treatment Packages, responding promptly to clinical referrals, offering patients three treatment date options within six weeks of clearing the diagnostic stage, maintaining appropriate standards of clinical quality and patient care, and delivering the services included within each Treatment Package. Hospitals must also provide English-speaking patient support, comply with agreed service levels, cooperate in post-operative follow-up and maintain appropriate insurance, licences and regulatory approvals.
MMG also requires accredited hospitals to meet strict standards of professional conduct, patient communication, data protection and financial transparency, helping to ensure that patients receive a consistent, reliable and high-quality experience throughout their treatment journey. You can read here about our hospital accreditation criteria: https://www.mymedicalgateway.com/mmg-hospital-standards
Why does MMG only work with Accredited Hospitals?
Patient safety, quality and transparency are at the heart of everything we do. MMG only works with hospitals that have successfully completed our clinical, operational and commercial due diligence process and have entered into a formal Healthcare Provider Agreement (HPA) with us.
How does My Medical Gateway select hospitals?
Every hospital must satisfy rigorous legal, clinical and operational standards before it can become an MMG Accredited Hospital. This includes appropriate licensing, regulatory compliance, proven clinical expertise, robust governance, financial stability and the ability to deliver MMG's Treatment Packages in accordance with the Healthcare Provider Agreement (HPA). Accreditation is entirely free for hospitals, but it is never automatic.
We are also highly selective about where our hospitals are located. Our aim is to build a network across Europe that combines outstanding clinical care with destinations that are attractive and familiar to British patients. Many people value the opportunity to recover in a country they know and enjoy, with a favourable climate, excellent hospitality and straightforward travel connections, while benefiting from world-class healthcare at significantly lower cost than equivalent private treatment in the UK.
Our objective is to offer patients not only exceptional medical care, but also the reassurance and comfort of recovering in an environment that supports both their physical and emotional wellbeing.
Are EU hospitals comparable to UK private hospitals?
Absolutely. Many leading private hospitals across Europe provide consultant-led care in modern, state-of-the-art facilities and are comparable to UK private hospitals in terms of quality, safety and patient experience. Cost savings are generally driven by lower healthcare operating costs, not lower standards of treatment.
Do hospital staff speak English?
Yes. All MMG-accredited hospitals have dedicated international patient teams who speak English and support overseas patients throughout their treatment journey.
How the process works
How does the process work?
Select a treatment, compare MMG-accredited providers and receive fixed-price quotes. Once you choose a hospital, MMG coordinates the entire process, including onboarding, diagnostics, scheduling and payment. Read more.
What is the Treatment Date Guarantee?
Once your chosen hospital has reviewed your medical records and confirmed that you are suitable for treatment, it is contractually required to offer you a choice of three treatment dates, all within six weeks of clinical acceptance.
You then have 10 days to select your preferred date. This guarantee is one of the key commitments that MMG requires every Accredited Hospital to make under its Healthcare Provider Agreement (HPA), giving patients certainty and helping them plan their treatment, travel and recovery with confidence.
How does MMG manage my treatment from beginning to end?
MMG provides a structured, professionally managed pathway from your initial enquiry through to your recovery. Rather than simply introducing you to a hospital, we coordinate each stage of your treatment journey to help make the process as straightforward and predictable as possible.
Your journey begins with selecting a Treatment Package and signing your Healthcare Contract. We then help you obtain any required diagnostic tests, which are reviewed remotely by your chosen hospital. Once you are clinically accepted, the hospital will offer you three treatment dates within six weeks. After you have selected your preferred date, we coordinate the booking process and keep you informed every step of the way.
Your Treatment Package includes a dedicated English-speaking coordinator at the hospital, airport transfers, your treatment, any clinically required in-hospital care, post-operative rehabilitation where appropriate, and a remote follow-up consultation within 90 days of your procedure.
Throughout your journey, our UK-based Patient Support Team is available to answer questions and provide assistance, ensuring you have a single, coordinated pathway from your first enquiry until you have safely completed your recovery.
Who coordinates my treatment journey?
Your treatment journey is coordinated by MMG and your chosen accredited hospital, ensuring you receive continuous support from your first enquiry through to your recovery.
MMG's UK-based Patient Support Team will guide you through the booking process, help you obtain any required diagnostic tests, answer your questions and coordinate communications with your chosen hospital. Once your treatment has been confirmed, you will be assigned a dedicated English-speaking MMG Patient Coordinator at the hospital, who will manage your care before, during and after your procedure.
By working together, MMG and your hospital provide a single, coordinated pathway that helps ensure your treatment, travel, hospital stay and recovery are managed smoothly and efficiently.
Who is accountable if I need help during my treatment?
MMG and your chosen Accredited Hospital work together to support you throughout your healthcare journey. Your chosen hospital is responsible for your clinical care and will provide a dedicated English-speaking Patient Coordinator to support you before, during and after your treatment.
If you need assistance at any stage, you can contact either your hospital coordinator or MMG's UK-based Patient Support Team. We will work together to ensure your enquiry is dealt with promptly and that you receive the support you need.
When do I get a treatment date?
Once your diagnosis has been confirmed using the medical information and test results you provide, your chosen hospital will offer three available treatment dates within the following six weeks.
Remote diagnosis
What is remote diagnosis?
Remote diagnosis allows your chosen hospital to review your medical records and test results before you travel. In some cases, this may include a video consultation. Final pre-operative assessments and tests are always carried out by the hospital before treatment begins.
Do I need new tests?
In most cases, yes. Hospitals require recent diagnostic tests, usually no more than 30 days old, from a recognised provider.
What are the possible outcomes of the remote clinical review?
Following the remote review of your medical records and diagnostic tests, your chosen hospital will normally reach one of the following decisions:
- Your diagnosis is confirmed and you are offered three treatment dates.
- Your diagnosis is confirmed, but your recommended treatment is modified to reflect the clinical findings.
- Further diagnostic tests, imaging or a video consultation are required before a treatment decision can be made.
- The hospital concludes that you are not suitable for the proposed treatment or that an alternative course of care would be more appropriate.
This process helps ensure that your treatment plan is based on the most accurate and up-to-date clinical information before you travel.
Does MMG access my medical data?
No. Your diagnostic data is shared directly with your hospital. MMG does not store or review clinical information.
Aftercare, recovery & NHS care
What happens after I return to the UK?
Your care does not end when you leave the hospital. Your MMG Treatment Package includes post-operative support to help ensure you continue your recovery after returning home.
Depending on your treatment, this may include post-operative rehabilitation before you travel, a remote follow-up consultation with your consultant within 90 days of your procedure, and ongoing clinical advice where appropriate. Your hospital remains responsible for your clinical follow-up, while MMG's UK-based Patient Support Team is available to assist with any administrative or coordination queries.
Our objective is to ensure that your treatment is supported by a continuous pathway of care, from your initial enquiry through to your recovery back in the UK.
What if I have complications?
Your hospital is responsible for treatment-related aftercare under your Healthcare Contract. You can contact them directly for support, including remote consultation.
For urgent issues, you should use NHS services (111, A&E) as normal.
Can I use the NHS after treatment abroad?
Yes. Choosing treatment through My Medical Gateway does not affect your right to NHS care. UK patients remain fully entitled to access NHS services, including GP support, NHS 111 and emergency care, based on clinical need.
Will my GP be informed?
Patients are responsible for informing their GP of any treatment received abroad. Your hospital will provide full discharge documentation which you can share with your GP on return. This is recommended to ensure continuity of care.
Booking, payment and cancellation
How does payment work?
Our payment process is designed to give you certainty while allowing your chosen hospital to begin planning your treatment.
- A 10% Initial Payment is made when you sign your Healthcare Contract. This secures your booking and enables your hospital to begin the remote clinical review and treatment planning process.
- The remaining 90% is payable no later than 14 days before your scheduled treatment date.
- All payments are processed securely through Adyen, one of Europe's leading regulated payment providers, using industry-leading security and encryption standards.
This straightforward payment structure gives you complete transparency over the cost of your treatment, with no hidden fees or unexpected charges.
Can I use finance to spread the cost of treatment?
Absolutely. Eligible patients may be able to spread treatment costs through Klarna financing, helping make private healthcare more manageable.
What does the Initial Payment cover?
Your 10% Initial Payment secures your place in the treatment pathway and enables your chosen hospital to begin preparing your care. It:
- Secures your chosen Treatment Package and fixed price.
- Opens your patient file and initiates the remote clinical review of your medical records and diagnostic tests.
- Gives your case priority for consultant assessment and treatment planning.
- Enables your hospital to reserve treatment capacity and prepare your personalised care pathway.
Once your treatment has been clinically approved, you will be offered a choice of three treatment dates within six weeks, in accordance with MMG's Treatment Date Guarantee.
Is there a cooling-off period?
Yes. If you change your mind, you have a statutory 14-day cooling-off period from the date you make your Initial Payment, during which you may cancel your Healthcare Contract and receive a full refund, provided the remote clinical review has not already begun at your request.
Full details of your cancellation rights are set out in the MMG Terms of Use and your Healthcare Contract.
What if I am not suitable for treatment?
Your safety always comes first. If, following its remote clinical review, your chosen hospital concludes that the proposed treatment is not clinically appropriate for you, your Initial Payment will be refunded in full.
This means you can proceed with confidence, knowing that no treatment will take place unless your consultant is satisfied that it is in your best clinical interests. In some cases, the hospital may instead recommend an alternative treatment or request further investigations before reaching a final decision.
Insurance and risk
Do I need medical travel insurance?
Yes. We strongly recommend that you have appropriate medical travel insurance before travelling overseas for treatment.
Medical travel insurance may provide cover for matters such as travel disruption, cancellations, unforeseen medical complications and certain additional costs that may arise before, during or after your trip. Patients are responsible for deciding whether to purchase insurance and for ensuring that any policy meets their individual needs.
For patients who wish to obtain medical travel insurance, MMG can introduce them to an independent specialist provider.
Travel to Schengen
Do I need a visa to travel to Europe for treatment?
UK citizens do not currently require a visa for short stays in Schengen countries. Since 10 April 2026, the European Union's new Entry/Exit System (EES) has been fully operational across the 29 Schengen countries. The system replaces manual passport stamping for non-EU visitors with digital registration. On first entry into the Schengen area, visitors will typically undergo fingerprint and facial recognition registration to monitor permitted 90-day stays. The new ETIAS pre-travel electronic authorisation system is currently scheduled to become operational in the last quarter of 2026.
Referrals
Can I refer a friend or family member?
Yes. If you know someone who may benefit from faster access to high-quality private healthcare in Europe, you can invite them to use My Medical Gateway through our referral programme.
If the person you refer goes on to complete treatment through MMG, you may be eligible to receive a referral reward in accordance with the terms of the programme. Full details, including eligibility and applicable conditions, are available on our Referral Programme page.