Family and companion guide

Default policy: one companion per patient stays in the hospital room free of charge (bed/sofa + meals included). For a second companion the options are an adjacent room, an extra bed or a contracted nearby hotel — pricing confirmed with the coordinator at booking.

Age range: a companion aged 16+ is preferred for overnight stay. For a child under 16 a separate "child companion" arrangement is made — the child stays at a contracted hotel with the parent rather than in the hospital room, with free daytime hospital visits. Intensive-care stays restrict child visits (infection control).

Companion health status: if the companion has an active contagious illness (upper respiratory infection, measles, chickenpox) or is on immunosuppressive therapy, they may be asked to stay outside the hospital room. Chronic conditions such as COPD or heart failure are planned for in advance.

Registration & identity: the companion is added to hospital admission with passport/ID copy + contact number. JCI compliance requires a wristband for the companion; a card key is issued for room access.

Multiple family members: daytime visits are open without strict time caps (ENT wards typically 08:00-21:00); ICU / post-op recovery does have restrictions. A staggered visit plan is arranged by the coordinator.

Türkiye allows visa-free stays of up to 90 days for many countries, and e-visa for many others (most EU members enter visa-free 90 days). For health-tourism long stays the "Treatment Visa" is a separate category — the companion can apply on the same visa track.

Patient invitation letter: on hospital letterhead, signed by the physician, including treatment plan + expected length of stay + insurance/payment information for the patient. The letter covers passport details of both patient and companion. Turkish consulates may require this document at application.

Companion invitation letter contents: companion full name, passport number, relationship to patient (spouse/parent/child/sibling), duration of accompaniment, hospital responsibility statement. If the consulate asks, the hospital adds a financial responsibility undertaking.

Travellers from the Schengen area: visa-free entry (90 days in 180 rule). For refugee or emergency travel documents, please confirm with the consulate in advance.

Visa refusal (force majeure): the coordinator supports reapplication with additional documents (bank statement, hotel reservation, return ticket). For treatment cancellation due to visa refusal a 100% refund or credit policy applies — detail in the self-pay section of /sigorta-iade-rehberi.

ENT and head-and-neck surgical ward: 08:00-21:00 open visiting hours (a companion may stay 24/7). ICU / post-op recovery: 1-2 hour visit after the patient awakens + a 15-minute window during the morning physician round.

Companion amenities: in-room sofa-bed (1.20 × 2.00 m), bed linen, bathroom towels. Mini-fridge, tea/coffee machine, espresso (suite), TV, free Wi-Fi. Personal-item storage available at the luggage room.

Hygiene rules: alcohol-based hand-rub (ABHR) point used at the room entrance; during the first 48 hours post-op the companion also wears a mask (surgical wound infection control). Visitor dress code — no scrubs needed, but unscented, clean, closed-toe shoes preferred.

Things companions must not do: administer medications, check drains, inspect wounds, adjust IVs — these are nurse/physician tasks. The companion's role: patient comfort (water, pillow adjustment, walking assistance), psychological support, communication bridge with doctor/nurse.

Sensitive situations: when the patient needs sleep/silence the "Do Not Disturb" card is used; for privacy during exam/treatment the companion temporarily steps out (stays if the patient requests). Under KVKK/GDPR, written consent is required to share the patient's medical information with the companion.

In-hospital stay: 1 companion in a standard room, 2 companions possible in a suite. This is the most convenient option — short distance, 24/7 nursing access, meals included, no language barrier.

Nearby hotel options: 4-5 star contracted hotels within 50-300 m walking distance — Hilton, Hyatt, Sheraton, Sofitel (illustrative names; the coordinator confirms the specific property per case). A clinic "medical tourism rate" discount applies (10-25%). Airport transfer + daily clinic shuttle is free.

Hotel selection criteria: (1) walking distance (max 10 min), (2) 24/7 reception + early check-in (before noon), (3) elevator access (for patient-companions), (4) halal/kosher/vegan breakfast, (5) non-smoking floor option, (6) contracted pharmacy (linked through hotel reception).

Apart-hotel or short-term apartment: economical for companions staying 7+ days; kitchen + washing machine practicality. Contracted providers are available in nearby districts (Şişli, Beşiktaş, Mecidiyeköy). Daily cost decreases with longer stay.

By treatment type: rhinoplasty / septoplasty typically has 1-2 days in hospital + 5-7 days in a hotel follow-up window. Major surgery such as total laryngectomy / neck dissection follows 5-7 days hospital + 7-14 days hotel + tele-consult follow-up. See /saglik-turizmi/seyahat-rehberi for the full schedule.

24/7 coordination: if the companion becomes unwell (acute cold, gastritis, headache, chronic condition flare-up, anxiety attack) the clinic coordinator is reachable 24/7 via WhatsApp + phone. First response under 30 minutes.

Severity triangle: (a) mild — pharmacy over-the-counter medication + rest; (b) moderate — free triage at the clinic outpatient (brief internal medicine consult); (c) serious — referral to a contracted hospital emergency department (companion travel insurance applies).

Language barrier: hospital reception and nursing staff speak Turkish + English; if the companion's language is German/Russian/Arabic, the coordinator joins with an interpreter directly; French/Italian/Spanish via phone interpreter.

Pharmacy access: the contracted pharmacy is reachable 24/7 via hotel reception (night-duty rotation tracked from the Turkish Pharmacists Association list). Common OTC medications (paracetamol, ibuprofen, antacid, antihistamine, ORS) are stocked at every pharmacy. For chronic-disease medication: bring 30+ days from your home country; if needed a Turkish physician prescription can be issued.

Travel insurance: the companion is STRONGLY advised to hold valid travel insurance (90-day Türkiye policies are typically 50-150 EUR, varies by country). Without insurance, emergency care defaults to self-pay; the coordinator pre-discloses costs.

Chronic conditions: for type-1/2 diabetes, hypertension, COPD, antithrombotic therapy etc., the medication list + recent health report should be shared with the coordinator in advance. Internal hospital consultation channels are open in an emergency.

Companion anxiety is real — especially for first-time surgical patients. The clinical psychology team offers 30-minute consultations to both patient and companion (Turkish + English; German/Russian on request). Cognitive-behavioural relaxation techniques are taught pre-surgery without prescribing anxiolytics.

Extra support for cancer-patient families: 1-2 hour psycho-education sessions after an oncology diagnosis (treatment side effects, realistic expectations, normalising fear/anger/grief), referral to the Turkish Cancer Society and international support groups. Family counselling (spouse, child, parent) is optional.

Child companions (4-15 yrs): suggested local activities near the clinic — Miniaturk, Istanbul Aquarium, Vialand theme park, ICEC science centre, children's museums. Daily programmes through a contracted tour operator (companion + child together) — arranged via the coordinator.

In-hospital child area: a play area on the waiting floor, library (Turkish + English children's books), Wi-Fi tablet kiosk. While a parent is bedside, the child can stay in supervised care (age 6+, max 2 hours — with a social worker present).

Spiritual support: multi-faith clinic — prayer area (qibla marked), referrals to church/synagogue visits, Buddhist/Hindu meditation spaces. For Muslim patients and families, an imam consult is available on request (typically Friday).

Grief and farewell: for terminal cases or in the event of treatment complications a silent family room + culturally sensitive protocol is in place. Translation runs uninterrupted at such sensitive moments.

Post-op home-care checklist (rhinoplasty example): first 48 hours upper body upright (pillows 30-45°), 7 days no nasal trauma, 14 days no sports, 30 days no massage/sunbathing. The companion is responsible for keeping to the schedule.

Medication tracking: medication plan from hospital (antibiotic, painkiller, anti-oedema, nasal spray) — the companion reminds at each dose and reports non-adherence to the coordinator. Missed doses delay healing and raise infection risk.

Visual wound/dressing check: bleeding volume (pads per hour), dressing wetness, skin colour (redness, bruising, yellowing), increasing swelling, closed drain output (volume + colour). Photograph daily and send via WhatsApp to the coordinator.

Nutrition + hydration: first 24 hours soft diet (smoothies, soup, eggs), normal diet from 48 hours (avoiding hard foods). 2-3 litres of water daily. Companion provides practical help (water service, meal prep).

RED FLAGS — call immediately (24/7 coordinator + emergency hotline): (1) fever >38.5°C + chills, (2) sudden severe pain (unresponsive to current analgesic), (3) bleeding above expectation (2+ pads/hour), (4) shortness of breath / chest pain / orthopnoea, (5) altered consciousness / confusion, (6) calf swelling + pain (DVT suspicion), (7) wound dehiscence / purulent discharge.

Regular communication: one daily photo + brief report + pain score (0-10) → coordinator → surgeon. This routine catches concerns early. Tele-consult follow-up visits (usually post-op day 7 + day 14) include the companion.