Rhiannon Dunn was left ‘panicking and crying’ when her son Carlson, seven, split his head open after backflipping into a pool on holiday – she was left to fork out 1,500 for his medical treatmentBradley Jolly Overnight News Editor and Abigail Hunt Assistant News Editor
07:28, 08 Oct 2025Updated 07:28, 08 Oct 2025
A mum was left with a £1,500 bill when her son split his head open(Image: Kennedy News & Media)
A mum was left with a £1,500 bill when her son split his head open doing a backflip into a pool on holiday – as the hospital wouldn’t accept her Asda insurance. Rhiannon Dunn, 32, was left “panicking and I was crying” when little Carlson was rushed to a medical centre to treat the 1.5cm gash on the back of his scalp following the accident.
The seven-year-old lad had four stitches put in his head under local anaesthetics and an X-ray on his skull to ensure there were no fractures. Rhiannon had taken out insurance with Asda before jetting off to Antalya, Turkey, at the start of September, but the hospital refused to accept the cover.
The mum of four was forced to shell out £1,532.27 for the treatment before Carlson could be discharged from Konakli Medical Centre.
The hospital wouldn’t accept her Asda insurance(Image: Kennedy News & Media)
After being contacted by journalists, Asda stated it has reimbursed Rhiannon in full and expressed surprise and disappointment that the medical centre would not accept the £40 Superior Asda travel insurance.
The accident occurred on the first day of the trip, which Rhiannon had booked as a birthday present for Carlson. The youngster hit his head with such force it split open, causing severe bleeding, reports the Mirror.
Rhiannon, a full-time carer, said: “His cut was so wide open and deep, he needed stitches and to go to hospital. The wound was very deep and black and because he’s a red head it stood out.
“Everything was fine but then they shut us in a room and told us we had to pay the last bill. I told the hospital we had travel insurance from Asda. It was a premium travel insurance with unlimited access as I know kids can be clumsy.
“I was more worried about my son. He was looking at me and he was scared and frightened. I was more upset as you buy travel insurance for a reason and they wouldn’t accept it.
“In the end I had to borrow money from a friend. I don’t know what would have happened if I didn’t pay. Asda were shocked that they [the hospital] wouldn’t accept it.
“Asda spoke to the Turkish hospital and the hospital still point blank refused to accept the travel insurance. We were [put] in an office box room until we paid up. Asda were very distressed with the hospital and said they tried everything they could. I was panicking and I was crying.”
The mum of four was forced to shell out £1,532.27(Image: Kennedy News & Media)
Konakli Medical Centre has issued an apology after the mum felt “distressed”, but maintained that treatment takes priority and is “never delayed” due to insurance issues. The medical facility confirmed that ‘not all policies or insurers are accepted for direct cashless billing’, and in such cases patients must settle the bill themselves.
Rhiannon, who hails from Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, is now raising awareness about her ordeal to caution fellow travellers to verify their travel insurance will be recognised at medical facilities close to their accommodation. “It’s frustrating because you purchase travel insurance for a reason… He told me he’d banged his head, [then I spotted the blood] and started panicking,” Rhiannon, a mother of four, explained.
“I just want to warn other parents to check your insurance and what hospitals it covers. The hospital said they don’t work with Asda travel insurance but Asda said they hadn’t been notified that they didn’t work with them.
“It’s affected me financially as you pay for holiday insurance for a reason and expect to pay the excess [if you need to claim], but I’ve never known to have to cough up the whole amount.
“I want to raise awareness to other families to make sure they do thorough checks and to make sure the local hospital near to where you are staying is covered through your insurance.”
A spokesperson for Konakli Medical Centre said: “Firstly, we take all patient feedback seriously, and we are sorry to hear that Ms Dunn felt distressed during her visit.
“We work with many travel insurance providers; however, not all policies or insurers are accepted for direct cashless billing, particularly when there is no prior agreement or contract in place.
“In such cases, patients are generally required to pay for treatment and seek reimbursement from their insurer. This is standard procedure at many private healthcare facilities internationally.
“Our medical centre always prioritises the urgent care and well-being of the patient. Treatment is never delayed due to insurance matters.
“Once the patient is stable and treatment is complete, administrative steps regarding payment or insurance are handled. No patient is ever held against their will at our facility. Payment is processed in a separate administrative area from the patient registration desk.
“Additionally, before any treatment is carried out, the full medical process and associated costs are clearly explained to the patient (or guardian), and informed consent is obtained prior to proceeding.”
After being approached by reporters, Asda expressed their ‘surprise and disappointment’ that the hospital had refused to accept the insurance details but confirmed that they had now processed Rhiannon’s claim.
A spokesperson for Asda Travel Insurance commented: “We are disappointed that Ms Dunn had this experience on her holiday, and we wish her son a speedy recovery.
“Ms Dunn’s insurance claim has now been accepted and paid in full. We were surprised and disappointed that the hospital did not accept her insurance details, which was the cause of this problem and, had the hospital followed normal process, the challenges experienced could have been avoided.”