A mother’s dream family holiday in Turkey turned into a nightmare when her five-year-old son, Layton, suffered excruciating stomach pain, requiring emergency surgery. Kay Bainbridge, from Rainham, Kent, described the hospital in Alanya as resembling a “mortuary,” with appalling conditions that left her family traumatized. On May 14, 2025, Layton was rushed to Baskent University Hospital after his intestines became twisted, but the care was far from adequate.
Kay reported rude staff, inedible meals, and unprofessional treatment. She recounted her son screaming as nurses roughly inserted a cannula, leaving blood-stained sheets. Language barriers compounded the ordeal, with Kay handed untranslated Turkish forms, raising fears she might have unknowingly signed away her son’s organs. The hospital even misplaced their passports, only returning them after threats to involve police. The family’s ordeal, reported by MailOnline on May 31, 2025, highlights the risks of emergency care abroad.
Kay has since launched a GoFundMe to cover medical and travel costs, as the substandard care drained their resources. This case underscores the importance of researching healthcare standards and insurance before traveling. For British tourists, the Foreign Office advises checking medical facilities and translation services at destinations. Kay’s experience serves as a stark warning a dream holiday can quickly become a fight for survival in an unfamiliar system.
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