Medical care is limited. There are two public hospitals and one private hospital in St. Lucia, and the standard of care they provide may be lower than you would expect in the UK. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services. For major illnesse’s or accidents you may have to be evacuated from the islands to source more appropreiate care for your condition.
We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for the activities you want to undertake.
The EHIC replaced the E111 form in January of 2006. E111 forms are no-longer valid. You should therefore ensure that you have the EHIC prior to travelling.
The EHIC is available free of charge through the department of health’s website…
www.dh.gov.uk/travellers
www.ehic.org.uk
If you prefer you can telephone 0845 606 2030.
The EHIC is valid within the economic area and Switzerland. The EHIC form will ensure that if you are suddenly taken ill or have an accident during your visit any necessary medical treatment will be provided for free or at reduced costs.
Only state provided treatment is covered and you will be treated on the same terms as any insured nationals of the country that you are visiting. Private treatment is generally not covered, and state provided treatment may not cover all the things that you would expect to receive on the NHS.
The EHIC does not cover you for all the medical costs that you can incur or for repatriation. It is not an alternative to travel insurance. It is therefore paramount that you have full travel insurance arranged prior to travel.