It’s happened to the best of us – you think you’ve packed everything you could possibly need for your holiday only to arrive at your hotel and discover you’ve left your phone charger or favourite t-shirt at home. It’s easily done, and although not having a special item of clothing is annoying, it shouldn’t be enough to spoil your holiday. But if you or one of your kids falls ill on holiday and you realise that your EHIC paperwork is safely in a drawer at home, what should you do?

Other Documents

Depending on the hospital or doctor concerned, they may be prepared to start your treatment while you or a relative organises getting EHIC approval from the UK. This is more likely to be the case in a region where there are lots of tourists from other EU countries, and the administrators know how the system works. You will probably be asked to show something to confirm your nationality, such as your passport. Remember too that EHIC won’t be any good in a private hospital, or when you are being treated privately in the state system. If you do end up being taken to a private hospital, you will either have to foot the bill, or have alternative insurance to cover the cost.

Provisional Replacement Certificate

If you need urgent medical attention when you are overseas and your EHIC paperwork has been lost, stolen or left at home, then you will need to obtain a Provisional Replacement Certificate (PRC). If you are too ill to arrange a PRC, someone else can do it on your behalf. Getting a replacement means making a call to the Overseas Healthcare department of the NHS, and lines are open 8am to 5pm Monday to Friday. If you are admitted to hospital on a Friday evening, you will have to wait until Monday morning to make a call, which could delay treatment. When your call is answered, give your name, address, date of birth, details of the hospital where you or your relative has been admitted, and either your National Insurance number or your NHS or CHI number. This will help the NHS track you down on their database and arrange for a PRC to be faxed to the hospital or doctor who is treating you. You won’t be able to take the PRC away with you, so will still have to sort out getting a replacement EHIC once you return to the UK.

EHIC Lost in the UK

If you lose your EHIC at home, or travel home without it and need to organise a replacement, this is a less urgent situation. There are a variety of ways of contacting the Overseas Healthcare team to get a replacement EHIC, and you can contact them by post, phone or email. You’ll still have to give all of the same details such as name, address and National Insurance number. It usually takes around two weeks for a replacement card to be issued; if you need a card to be issued urgently, call the helpline and ask the operator to explain your options.