What Happens When There Is A Medical Emergency On Board A Cruise Ship?
Cruises are, amusingly, one of the more enduring and inextricable aspects of British holiday-making culture. If we’ve not been on a cruise before ourselves, then we invariably know someone who has – whether a dear aunt and uncle or Sandra from accounts. There’s something undeniably alluring about life on the high seas, eating and drinking all-inclusive or simply sunbathing on a quiet deck somewhere sunny. But, alluring as a cruise might be to some, there remain some significant questions about the safety of such trips.
Despite well-litigated health and safety regulation, there are still some highly specific risks inherent to cruise travel, to say nothing of the simple fact that people can fall ill when on holiday. Before you book your first cruise, you might be hoping to have a simple question about your medical safety quelled, so here it is: what happens when there is a medical emergency on board a cruise ship?
1. Onboard Medical Facilities and Staff
Cruise ships are, effectively, self-contained communities. Due to the long periods of time they can spend at sea, there needs to be a wide variety of provisions for staff and cruise travellers alike – including medical facilities. Modern cruise ships are equipped with medical centres staffed by qualified doctors and nurses, capable of providing both primary and emergency care to those on-board. These facilities are equipped to handle a wide range of medical situations, from the most minor of boo-boos to more serious conditions.
2. Emergency Evacuation Procedures
Treatment on-board a cruise ship is possible, but not necessarily ideal. Though facilities will be well-equipped to handle the vast majority of common maladies both major and minor, it will still be the case that some injuries or events are better treated on land. In cases such as these, cruise ships will coordinate with maritime authorities in the relevant waters to evacuate passengers to shore-based hospitals.
3. Legal Rights and Medical Negligence Claims
While cruise ships may spend a lot of time in international waters or other jurisdictions, this does not mean they are any less responsible to following appropriate safety regulation – nor are their medical staff any less responsible for you as a patient in the event of a medical emergency. Though rare, there remains the slightest possibility that a condition is worsened by inadequate care on-board, in which case you may be entitled to compensation. A no-win no-fee solicitor is a helpful way to approach the possibility of a civil case, should you come to believe you have one.
4. Costs and Insurance Considerations
Though there is heavy regulation of cruise travel, and UK law can be used persuasively to hold cruise companies accountable, this does not mean that cruise ships are extensions of British land. This might sound obvious, but let’s put it this way: medical services on cruise ships are not covered by the NHS. Passengers are billed for consultations, treatments, and any necessary evacuations.
These costs are, suffice it to say, potentially ruinous for the average household - therefore, comprehensive travel insurance that includes medical coverage and emergency evacuation is essential. The British Insurance Brokers' Association advises that many standard travel insurance policies may exclude cruises, so it's important to ensure your policy covers all aspects of cruise travel before you do set off.
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