Spiders are many Brit’s worst fears, although we’ve seemingly got it good compared to some of the giant eight-legged creatures you see in the likes of Australia.
While the odd giant spider has snuck through the UK borders from time to time, the bites we commonly see aren’t all that likely to cause serious damage—or lead to us developing any special powers.
Still, some rare cases of spider bites can trigger serious health complications, requiring urgent diagnostic testing, prescription medication, or even hospital admission, especially for individuals with pre-existing wellness conditions.
St John’s Ambulance suggest that “the majority of spider bites in the UK cause uncomfortable and itchy areas which can appear red or purple which settles within about a week.”
However, if the bite leads to infection or swelling, it could result in increased hospital costs and necessitate private health insurance coverage, especially if multiple visits are required.
Spider bite leaves man in agony and unable to walk
However, Hertfordshire man Keith Robinson has been left in unbearable pain and struggling to walk after he was bitten by what he believes to be a false widow spider—raising concerns around infection control and the potential need for specialist chronic pain management.
The noble false widow spider—native in many parts of the world, including Europe and North America—is “widely regarded as the most dangerous spider breeding in Britain,” according to a 2020 paper by Clive Hambler, an Oxford University zoologist.
Encounters like this can sometimes be eligible for legal compensation, particularly if a landlord or property manager failed to maintain pest-free environments, prompting concerns about personal injury liability.
“It must be more than coincidence that I had removed a large number of cobwebs from the house by hoover,” Keith said. “So I’m thinking that I’ve disturbed a spider, and at some point, I got bitten.
“The stinging pain almost became unbearable at times until I was given stronger pain killers and antibiotics.” In cases like this, antibiotic-resistant infections or deep tissue complications.
Can drive up emergency room expenses and extend treatment cycles, particularly without the support of comprehensive private insurance plans.
Hospitalization after wound worsens into cellulitis
After trying and failing to treat the inflammation with Savlon, Keith opted to go to hospital after developing cellulitis, a potentially serious bacterial skin infection.
Infections of this nature often require lab testing, IV therapy, and close diagnostic monitoring, which are associated with high medical treatment costs.
“The worst it got was the weekend of May 10. That’s when I decided it was best to go to the hospital,” he explained. “I was given a blood test and put on a saline drip, before I was released with painkillers and antibiotics.”
This level of care might be covered under critical illness policies or accident and emergency health insurance, especially when ongoing care or specialist consultations are necessary.
However, the British Arachnological Society seemingly disputes his claims, suggesting that false widows are unlikely to penetrate human skin with their bites. While they do possess some toxins,
There are very few confirmed cases of them biting and none of serious injury as a direct result. Even so, medical disputes like this often raise issues around diagnostic accuracy, and in extreme cases, can trigger medical negligence investigations.
