International patients
For overseas patients — breast surgery and cancer care in London
Breast surgery and breast cancer care in London for patients travelling from abroad — consultations, surgery, reconstruction, and follow-up with the same clinical team as UK private patients. Dr Fiona Tsang-Wright (GMC 4549831), Consultant Oncoplastic and Reconstructive Breast Surgeon, at Women's Health Centre – Harley Street (27–29 Harley Street), Women's Health Centre - King's Road, and The Chiltern Hospital; Sarah or Nadiya, Dr Tsang-Wright's PAs, coordinate translators, hospital choice, visa letters, and payment.
Quick answers
How do I enquire?
Email [email protected] with a brief outline of your situation, your country, likely travel dates, and whether you need translator support.
How soon can I be seen?
A first appointment is often arranged within the same week of enquiry, depending on your arrival window — Sarah or Nadiya coordinate timing around your travel.
Is translator support available?
Yes — Arabic, Mandarin, Cantonese, French, Spanish, and other languages on request. Flag your language preference in your initial enquiry.
The practice operates from three London-area locations (Harley Street, Chelsea, and Buckinghamshire) within established UK private hospitals — HCA facilities (Women’s Health Centre on Harley Street, Women’s Health Centre – King’s Road, and Princess Grace Hospital), The Lister Hospital (HCA, Chelsea), and Circle Health Group (Great Missenden). International patients are seen in the same consulting rooms and operated on in the same theatres as UK patients; the difference is in the surrounding logistics — translator support, accommodation coordination, payment arrangements, and the pre- and post-operative pathway across the visit.
What the practice can do for overseas patients
Where reconstruction is being considered, options such as DIEP flap can be discussed at consultation, where clinically indicated.
Same-week consultations
A first appointment with Dr Fiona Tsang-Wright is typically available within a few days of enquiry, and same-week scheduling is usually possible for patients flying in. Sarah or Nadiya, Dr Tsang-Wright’s PAs, coordinate appointment timing around your arrival window.
For patients arriving with imaging and pathology already in hand from another country, the consultation usually includes a clinical examination plus a review of the imaging on disc. Where additional imaging or biopsy is needed, the practice arranges this at the same hospital where appropriate, often on the same day or the day after the consultation.
Translator and interpreter support
The practice routinely arranges translator support for patients who prefer to consult in a language other than English. Common languages requested:
Arabic
The practice maintains contacts with professional medical interpreters who can attend in person or via video link.
Mandarin and Cantonese
Same arrangement; in-person preferred for the initial consultation.
French, Spanish, Russian, Farsi, Turkish, Hebrew, others
Available on request with sufficient notice.
Translator booking is managed through Sarah or Nadiya; please flag the language preference in your initial enquiry so the right interpreter is in place for the consultation.
For patients who prefer to bring their own interpreter — a family member, a personal interpreter, or an interpreter arranged through their embassy or insurer — that is also fine. The practice’s only constraint is that medical decision-making conversations should be heard with appropriate clarity by the patient, in whichever language is most comfortable.
Hospital coordination across London
The practice operates across several London hospitals, and the right venue for a specific patient depends on the procedure, the timing, and the patient’s preference. International patients commonly use:
HCA Harley Street and Marylebone facilities
(Women’s Health Centre, The Harley Street Clinic, and Princess Grace Hospital) — central, established, and the most common choice for international patients.
The Lister Hospital, Chelsea
Central London, full surgical facilities, well-set-up for short-stay consultations.
Princess Grace Hospital (HCA)
Full surgical and reconstruction facilities; the standard choice for major operations.
Circle Health, Great Missenden (Buckinghamshire)
Quieter, semi-rural setting; an option for patients who prefer recovery away from central London.
Sarah or Nadiya coordinate the choice of hospital with the patient and with the hospital’s international patient services where one exists. All four hospitals have established international patient teams — concierge services, hotel arrangements, accompanying-family coordination, and (for cash-payment routes) consolidated billing.
Treatment planning across multiple visits
Most international breast cancer pathways span more than one visit. A common shape:
Visit 1 (consultation)
Typically 2 to 5 days. Imaging review, examination, biopsy if needed, treatment planning conversation, MDT review. Patients often return home for the MDT and detailed planning conversations to happen in their absence, then receive the recommendation by video link.
Visit 2 (surgery)
Typically at least 10 days in the UK before any flight after major surgery, and often 4–8 weeks (commonly 6–8 weeks after mastectomy with reconstruction) before long-haul return. Includes the operation, the immediate recovery, drain removal, and the histology results conversation.
Subsequent care
Adjuvant treatment (radiotherapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy) is sometimes delivered in London and sometimes returned to the patient’s home country with a written treatment plan. The practice writes detailed letters for receiving teams.
Follow-up
Annual surveillance can be done by the patient’s local oncology team or by visiting London once a year, depending on the patient’s preference and what is available locally.
This is a common pattern, not a fixed plan. Specific cases vary; Sarah or Nadiya work through the timing with each patient individually.
Self-pay and insurance for international patients
Self-pay
Most overseas patients without UK insurance pay directly for their care. The practice provides transparent, written pricing in advance for the consultation, any imaging or biopsy required, the surgical fee, the anaesthetist fee, and the hospital fee. Hospital fees are paid directly to the hospital (rather than via the practice); the practice fee is paid to the practice.
Pricing is in pounds sterling. Major credit cards, bank transfers, and (where pre-arranged) embassy / sponsor payments are accepted. Hospital fees typically require a deposit before admission and the balance on discharge.
For complex pathways (cancer surgery with reconstruction, multi-stage operations), the practice provides an upfront written estimate before any commitment is made; this covers the realistic range including likely hospital costs and reasonable contingency. Hospital “package” pricing is sometimes available through the international patient teams at HCA, Princess Grace, or The Lister.
See fees and insurance for the practice’s general fee framework. Specific quotes for international patients are issued by Sarah or Nadiya on enquiry.
International insurance
Many international insurers (including Bupa Global, Cigna Global, Allianz Worldwide, AXA Global, Aetna International, regional insurers from the Gulf and South-East Asia, and embassy-linked health schemes) cover treatment in London. Pre-authorisation is normally required before consultation and surgery; Sarah or Nadiya coordinate the paperwork directly with the insurer’s medical case manager.
If you are unsure whether your insurance will cover treatment with the practice, ask Sarah or Nadiya and provide a copy of your insurance card. The practice will not begin formal pre-authorisation without the patient’s instruction, but can advise on whether the cover is likely sufficient.
Embassy and sponsor schemes
Patients funded by a national health scheme, embassy, or government sponsor (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, and others) are familiar to the practice and to the hospitals. The administrative pathway involves:
- A formal letter of guarantee from the funding body addressed to the hospital and to the practice.
- Itemised quotes for the planned treatment in advance.
- Coordination with the embassy’s medical attaché where one is involved.
This pathway is well-established and Sarah or Nadiya handle it routinely. Lead times depend on the embassy; some are same-week, others require 2 to 3 weeks of paperwork before the patient can be seen.
Practical logistics
Visas
The UK has specific visa categories for medical treatment:
Standard Visitor visa (private medical treatment)
For treatment courses up to 6 months; see gov.uk/standard-visitor for current Home Office rules.
Longer private medical treatment
Patients needing more than 6 months may apply under the dedicated medical-treatment visitor route; check current Home Office guidance before applying.
Patient’s accompanying family
Typically travel on standard visitor visas.
The practice does not provide visa support directly but can supply the letter of clinical need that visa applications usually require — confirming the appointment, the planned treatment, and the expected duration of stay. Sarah or Nadiya issue this on request once the appointment is confirmed.
For patients from countries with visa-free entry to the UK (most of Europe, the GCC countries, the US, Canada, Australia, others), no visa is needed; an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) may apply.
Accommodation
Each of the London hospitals the practice uses has established arrangements with nearby hotels offering medical-stay rates and amenities suited to recovering patients (extended stays, family accommodation, adapted rooms). The international patient services teams coordinate accommodation:
Harley Street and Marylebone
Many small and mid-size hotels within walking distance.
Chelsea
Short walk to The Lister; multiple hotels in the immediate area.
Great Missenden / Buckinghamshire
Two well-regarded country hotels within 10 minutes of the hospital, plus more options in nearby towns (Amersham, High Wycombe).
For patients with a planned recovery in the UK (typically 1 to 3 weeks for major surgery), serviced apartments are often more comfortable and cost-effective than hotels for a longer stay; the international patient teams maintain a list of recommended providers.
Travel — the realistic logistics
A few things worth knowing in advance:
Flight timing
The Civil Aviation Authority advises at least 10 days after major chest or abdominal surgery before any flight. For long-haul journeys (over 4 hours), an additional venous-thromboembolism (VTE) risk window applies — typically 4–8 weeks, and often 6–8 weeks after mastectomy with reconstruction. Your surgeon and anaesthetist will confirm the earliest safe date for your return flight.
Companion travel
Most international patients travel with at least one accompanying family member or carer. The practice strongly recommends this for any patient having surgery away from home.
Insurance for the journey
Separate from any medical insurance, travel insurance for the trip itself (covering cancellation, evacuation, post-op return) is worth having. Some specialist medical-tourism brokers offer cover specifically for overseas surgery patients.
Document handling
Bring imaging on disc (not on paper, ideally not on memory stick — DICOM disc is the universal format), pathology slides where available, all relevant treatment letters, and a summary of medical history. Sarah or Nadiya will request these in advance and confirm what’s needed.
How to enquire
Email Sarah or Nadiya at [email protected] with:
- A brief outline of the situation — the diagnosis or symptom, what investigations have been done, what you are looking for from a London consultation.
- Your country of origin and the city you would be flying from.
- The likely time-frame for travel — flexible, urgent, or fixed dates.
- Whether translator support is needed and in which language.
- Any insurance, embassy, or sponsor arrangement that applies.
Sarah or Nadiya reply within 24 to 48 hours UK time with the next steps — typically a video consultation with Dr Tsang-Wright before any in-person appointment is booked, so that the visit is well-prepared on both sides.
For urgent enquiries, call +44 7785 274 744 — UK office hours, usually 9am to 6pm London time. Outside hours, leave a voicemail or email; Sarah or Nadiya reply the next working day.
Languages spoken in the practice
Dr Fiona Tsang-Wright consults in English. Translator support is arranged for any other language through professional medical interpreters; see Translator support above. Sarah or Nadiya correspond in English and arrange translation of written documents (referral letters, discharge summaries) on request.
Quick reference
First appointment availability
Usually within the same week of enquiry
Languages supported via interpreter
Arabic, Mandarin, Cantonese, French, Spanish, Russian, Farsi, Turkish, Hebrew, others on request
Hospitals used
Harley Street facilities (HCA, including The Harley Street Clinic and Princess Grace), The Lister Hospital (Chelsea), Circle Health (Great Missenden)
Self-pay accepted
Yes — pricing transparent in writing in advance
International insurers known to cover the practice
Bupa Global, Cigna Global, Allianz Worldwide, AXA Global, Aetna International, regional Gulf and SE Asia insurers, embassy schemes
Embassy / sponsor schemes
Routinely accepted (Saudi, UAE, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, others)
Visa-application letter
Provided on appointment confirmation by Sarah or Nadiya
Typical visit length for surgery
At least 10 days before any flight after major surgery; typically 4–8 weeks (often 6–8 weeks) before long-haul return after mastectomy/reconstruction; 2 to 5 days for consultation only