What Happens If Something Goes Wrong During Treatment in Shanghai?

Let's Be Honest About Risk

Every surgery carries risk. Whether you have your operation on the NHS, at a UK private hospital, or at a Grade 3A hospital in Shanghai, there is no such thing as a zero-risk procedure. Patients considering treatment abroad deserve honest information about complication rates, emergency protocols, and what to do if things go wrong — not marketing reassurance.

This article addresses those questions directly. The good news: complication rates at accredited overseas hospitals are comparable to UK equivalents, and the safety infrastructure at Grade 3A hospitals is genuinely world-class. The realistic news: complications do happen, and being prepared for them is part of being a responsible medical tourist.

What Are the Complication Rates?

Major complication rates at China's Grade 3A hospitals are typically 3–7% for elective procedures — a range that is consistent with published UK NHS and UK private hospital benchmarks for similar procedures.

Procedure-specific examples (Grade 3A hospital averages):

• Knee replacement infection: ~1–2% (UK benchmark: 1–2%)
• Hip replacement dislocation: ~2–4% (UK benchmark: 2–3%)
• Spinal surgery dural tear: ~3–7% (UK benchmark: 3–8%)
• Bariatric surgery leak: ~1–3% (UK benchmark: 1–3%)
• DVT / PE (any major surgery): ~1–2% with prophylaxis (UK benchmark: similar)

For a deeper analysis of complication rates and management, see our article on overseas surgery complications and UK aftercare.

What If Something Goes Wrong: Step-by-Step

Even with the best preparation, complications can occur. Here is exactly what to do in an emergency, in order.

Step 1: Call Your Discovery China Medical Concierge

Every patient is given a 24/7 emergency concierge number at admission. Call this first, in any situation. The concierge will:

• Immediately alert the surgical team and the on-call senior clinician
• Coordinate rapid assessment — often within minutes at the hospital
• Translate the clinical situation between you and the medical team
• Contact your medical travel insurance emergency line on your behalf
• Notify your designated UK emergency contact if you wish

Step 2: Go Directly to Hospital A&E if Concierge Is Unreachable

Every Grade 3A hospital has a 24/7 emergency department (急诊, jízhěn). Major Shanghai hospitals have English-speaking emergency staff and translators on call. Present your Discovery China patient card and the hospital will escalate immediately.

Step 3: Call 120 for Ambulance

China's emergency ambulance number is 120. Operators at major Shanghai hospitals speak English. The ambulance will take you to the nearest appropriate hospital — ideally your treating facility, but if not, the receiving hospital will contact your treating team for records.

Step 4: Contact Your Medical Travel Insurance Emergency Line

Your policy documents include a 24/7 international assistance number. Call as soon as it is practical. The insurer will:

• Confirm coverage for the complication
• Dispatch case management support
• Begin arranging repatriation if medically necessary
• Cover costs of extended stay, family travel, and emergency treatment

Step 5: Notify the British Embassy if Needed

The British Embassy in Beijing (+86 10 5192 4000) can provide consular assistance in serious situations — helping you communicate with medical staff, contacting family, or arranging emergency travel documents. The British Consulate General in Shanghai is also available for in-person support.

Medical Repatriation: What You Need to Know

Medical repatriation — getting you safely back to the UK if a complication requires prolonged or escalated care — is one of the most important things to have covered by insurance. The cost without insurance can exceed £50,000–£150,000 depending on the clinical situation.

Specialist medical travel insurance typically covers:

• Air ambulance with full ICU team and equipment, dedicated or commercial flight depending on clinical need
• Medical escort by a doctor or nurse on a commercial flight, if air ambulance is not clinically required
• Ground ambulance at both the sending and receiving ends
• Coordination with receiving hospitals in the UK, including handover notes and pre-arrival briefing
• Extended hotel stay for the patient or companion if discharge is delayed but air ambulance is not yet needed
• Family travel to be with the patient if hospitalisation is extended

For a detailed comparison of specialist insurance providers, see our medical travel insurance guide for UK patients.

Filing a Complaint If Something Goes Wrong

Most complications are clinical events that resolve with appropriate treatment. But sometimes the issue is not the complication itself but the way it is handled — delays, poor communication, inadequate response. In those cases, you have several routes to seek redress.

Hospital Complaints Process

Every Grade 3A hospital has a patient relations department (医务处, yīwù chù) where you can file a formal complaint in person or in writing. Response is typically within 7 working days. The hospital is required by Chinese health regulations to investigate and respond in writing.

Discovery China Escalation

If you are unhappy with the hospital's response, Discovery China acts as your advocate and will escalate the issue to senior hospital management, including the hospital director or chief medical officer if needed. This is one of the main reasons to use a UK-based medical concierge rather than booking directly with an overseas hospital.

Formal Legal and Regulatory Routes

For serious unresolved issues, formal routes include:

• Medical liability claim against the hospital through the Chinese courts
• Hospital's medical liability insurance — every Grade 3A hospital carries mandatory professional liability insurance
• Chinese Medical Doctor Association — the regulatory body for physician conduct
• Local health authority — provincial Health Commission where the hospital is located

These routes are real and used, but they can be slow and complex. The most effective resolution is usually through hospital negotiation with Discovery China advocacy, rather than formal legal action. For a deeper guide, see our medical disputes guide.

Document Everything From Day One

If something does go wrong, the documentation you gather during your stay is crucial. From the moment of admission:

• Keep copies of every clinical note, investigation result, and consent form
• Photograph any visible concerns (wounds, swelling, equipment)
• Maintain a daily journal of symptoms, conversations with staff, and medication changes
• Save all text messages, emails, and WhatsApp conversations with the concierge and clinical team
• Request English-language copies of all clinical documents
• Record the names and titles of every clinician involved in your care

NHS Aftercare on Your Return

One of the most common patient concerns is whether the NHS will help if something goes wrong after returning home. The answer is unambiguous: yes.

NHS GPs and A&E departments treat complications from any surgery, regardless of where it was performed. Specifically:

• Wound infections: your NHS GP can prescribe oral antibiotics, arrange wound swabs, and review healing
• Suspected DVT: NHS A&E will perform Doppler ultrasound and initiate anticoagulation if needed
• Implant concerns: your NHS GP can refer you for X-ray or CT, and onward to an NHS orthopaedic or surgical specialist if needed
• Persistent pain: NHS pain management services are available regardless of where the original surgery was performed
• Acute surgical emergencies: NHS A&E will assess and operate if needed (e.g., abscess drainage, haematoma evacuation)

The Chinese surgical team will provide a complete English-language clinical handover package for your NHS team to integrate into your records. This includes operation notes, implant details, anaesthetic record, post-operative notes, and any imaging performed in China. With this documentation, your NHS team has everything they need to manage your ongoing care.

One important caveat: while NHS will treat complications, it will not redo the original surgery free of charge if the original procedure fails. Revision surgery, if needed, would typically be performed either back in China (under the original treatment package) or privately in the UK. For a deeper guide, see our overseas surgery complications and UK aftercare guide.

Why Discovery China Reduces Risk

Many of the things that go wrong in medical tourism are not surgical complications — they are logistical failures, communication breakdowns, and inadequate support. Discovery China is designed to eliminate these.

• Pre-screening — we review your case carefully before confirming acceptance, declining cases where the risk is too high
• Grade 3A-only partner facilities — full ICU, 24/7 senior cover, on-site emergency surgery
• Bilingual medical concierge — accompanies you to every appointment, translates in real time, advocates on your behalf
• Insurance guidance — we help you select specialist medical travel insurance before departure
• Emergency escalation pathway — 24/7 hotline, direct line to senior clinicians if needed
• Family communication — with your consent, designated UK contacts receive updates after key milestones
• English-language documentation — every clinical note, image, and discharge summary
• NHS handover package — for seamless continuity of care on return
• 12-month remote follow-up — direct contact with your Chinese surgical team for any post-treatment concerns

None of this eliminates clinical risk. But it does eliminate most of the avoidable failures that cause problems for medical tourists who try to organise their own care.