The Foreign Office has issued guidance for Canary Islands travellers following a British mother's critical hospitalisation. Jade Bird, 33, suddenly fell seriously ill at Tenerife's airport last Wednesday (March 18).

The 33-year-old was rushed from the airport to the hospital, where medical staff discovered a brain infection that had progressed into meningitis. Her sister-in-law Victoria said: "She flew out to Tenerife with her boyfriend for a holiday. While they were there, she was complaining of an earache, then she started being sick.

"When they got to the airport, she was unable to communicate, and she was screaming in pain, so they took her to the hospital. When they got there, they did a CT scan and found she had an infection in her brain, so they transferred her to an ICU in the north of Tenerife, put her on a ventilator, and she's been there ever since.

"They then found out that it's turned into meningitis, and she's been quite heavily sedated the last two or three days. There was concern of seizures and epilepsy, memory loss, paralysis - we still don't know the full extent of all this right now, until she wakes up completely."

The Foreign Office guidance for the European Union holiday destination states: "Before you travel check that your destination can provide the healthcare you may need and you have appropriate travel insurance for local treatment or unexpected medical evacuation.

tene"This is particularly important if you have a health condition or are pregnant." It continues: "At least 8 weeks before your trip check the latest vaccine recommendations for Spain and see where to get vaccines and whether you have to pay on the NHS travel vaccinations page."

The FCDO provides a list of medical providers in Spain, some of whom will be English-speaking. It further states: "If you need hospital treatment in Spain, you're more likely to receive appropriate care in public healthcare facilities.

"However, in some tourist areas, there may not be any public healthcare facilities nearby. Your insurance or medical assistance company will be able to provide further details.

"Some hotels may call private doctors or ambulances to take patients to private hospitals. The GHIC or EHIC will not be accepted there."