Medical Emergency At Sea?

With millions of passengers travelling every year, sailing all around the world on there chosen cruise holidays it has recently got me thinking what happens if there is a medical emergency at sea?

Of course all cruise ships have a medical centre onboard, but exactly how much can they do?

My little boy recently had to have an emergency operation at the wonderful Birmingham Children’s hospital , we went into A&E and the same afternoon the surgical team performed his operation. Which really got my brain in over drive thinking in 4 weeks time we will be boarding the P&O Britannia for a 13 night cruise, what if this would have happened whilst onboard? So ive done a little bit of research into what exactly the onboard medical centres can do and theirs a list of facilities on offer;

• ECG
• Nebuliser
• Oxygen
• X-Ray
• Pathology including blood tests such as INR, FBC (full blood count), U&E (urea & electrolytes) and LTF (Liver function test)
• In-patient Ward
• 24 hr Emergency Medical Services
• Variety of medication
• Administer injections (e.g insulin)
• Defibrillator

There are always a team of doctors and nurses onboard who work 24 hours a day and you can expect to pay a  fee to be seen by the medical centre which varies depending on cruise liner.

Some cruise ships can provide dialysis, including blood but this inst every ship that has these facilities.

Dental services are generally not provided at all onboard, it is possible to obtain the morning after pill and sharps boxes cabin be obtained also.

So to answer my own question, emergency operations are out of the question but for more minor medical care this is generally available onboard.

The main thing you should always have when you are travelling is of course your up to date and valid travel insurance and always make sure you declare any pre existing medical conditions otherwise your policy may become invalid.

Alfie is doing absolutley fantastic now and back to his old self pretty much and he is looking forward to his first cruise!