Travel Advice

Our nurses are fully trained to offer travel advice, should you wish to seek comprehensive assessment regarding your travel please contact us at least 6-8 weeks in advance so that we can review your health records and undertake assessment of the intended place of visit in order to make sure our advice is tailored to your particular needs. Plese use link below to download assessment form to submit the necessary information we need to undertake this assessment.

Travel Assessment Form

Please note travel advice is covered by the NHS; however some vaccinations and prescriptions are only available privately. However, for non-NHS services you may be directed to a travel clinic. 

Additionally, we have put together some useful information that you might find helpful to stay healthy on your trip. 

General personal health and prevention advice

WATER

Diseases can be caught from drinking contaminated water, or swimming in it. 

Unless you know the water, supply is safe where you are staying,

ONLY USE (in order of preference)        

1. Boiled water
2. Bottled water or canned drinks
3. Water treated by a sterilising agent.  

This includes water used to make ice cubes in drinks and water for cleaning your teeth

FOOD

Contaminated food is the commonest source of many diseases abroad.  You can help prevent illness by following these guidelines for advice on consuming food and beverages:    

 *Peeled fruits for example bananas:  Unpeeled fruits for example, raspberries, strawberries. 

Another source of calories is alcohol!  If you drink to excess, alcohol could lead you to become carefree and ignore these precautions.

PERSONAL HYGIENE

Many diseases are transmitted by what is known as the ‘faecal-oral’ route.  To help prevent this, always wash your hands with soap and clean water after going to the toilet, before eating and before handling food.  Using hand gel is another sensible option.

SUN AND HEAT

Sunburn and heat-stroke cause serious problems in travellers but in the long term can be a serious cause of skin cancer.  There is no such thing as a safe suntan, but the following advice should be taken:

PRECAUTIONARY GUIDELINES

• Increase sun exposure gradually, with a 20-minute limit initially.
• Use sun blocks which contain both UVA and UVB protection and sufficient sun protection factor (SPF) and a minimum of SPF 15. Children under 3 years should have a minimum of SPF 25 and babies under 6 months should be kept out of the sun at all times.  Reapply often and always after swimming and washing.  Read manufacturer instructions
• Always apply sunscreen first followed by an insect repellent spray on top
• Wear protective clothing – sunhats, T shirts and sunglasses etc.
• Avoid going out between 11am - 3pm, when the sun’s rays are strongest
• Take special care of children and those with pale skin/red hair
• Drink extra fluids in a hot climate
• Be aware that alcohol can make you dehydrated

Download Full Practice Leaflet for Travel Advice

If you take regular medications and are planning to travel away from home, we recommend following these steps to ensure that you are able to take your medicine regularly without any difficulties.

1. If you feel you will need additional supply of medicines while travelling then please contact us at least two weeks in advance before you travel, so that we can review your list of medicines and get them ready for collection.
2. You may need a formal letter signed by us for a few reasons listed below (please note this is non-NHS service so you may have to pay for the letter):
1. List of medicines that you regularly take and why you need to take them with you
2. If you are travelling abroad and need to take needles and syringes with you or taking controlled drugs with you to a country that restricts their use
3. Please pack a copy of your prescription – you can ask your regular chemist to provide it to you or we can provide it from reception desk (please allow us time to get it ready for you – at least 72 working hours)
4. Carry your medication in labelled packaging. NHS guidelines advice that you carry the majority in your hand luggage in a separate easily accessible bag and remaining in your suitcase luggage in case of loss or damages.
5. If you are travelling with liquid medicines over 100mls and you are travelling abroad, you may need a document to prove the liquid form of the medication is necessary. Please contact the airline you are travelling with to seek advice regarding regulations at the time of your journey. Please note this also includes medications such as inhalers.
6. Carrying over 100mls can sometimes mean this medication needs to be screened separately to your luggage - inform the security staff before going through security checks to make them aware of your medicines.
7. If you need to travel with needles or syringes you will need to carry the relevant medication alongside the equipment. You will not be able to travel with needles and syringes only. Your will also need a supporting letter.
8. If you are travelling to a warm country, get advice from the pharmacy on how to store your medication or see the NHS website for information regarding storing your medications.
9. The country you are travelling to may have restrictions on the medications that they allow into the country. Your airline or EMBASSY of the country you are travelling to may be able to help confirm the regulations. 
10. If any medications you are taking are controlled drugs and country where you are travelling to restricts their use then please contact airline team or contact the relevant embassy before you travel and you may need a supporting letter.

People sometimes ask the doctor or nurse to prescribe diazepam, or similar drugs like lorazepam temazepam or clonazepam, for fear of flying or to help sleep during flights. Prescribing these drugs is not recommended any more for these reasons:

1. Although plane emergencies are rare, taking Diazepam reduces awareness and reaction times for patients so you risk not being able to react to save your life if you have to escape quickly. You may also put other people in danger by getting in their way or making them help you.
2. The use of these drugs can make you sleep in an unnaturally deep sleep. This means you won’t move around as much as during natural sleep so you have a bigger risk of getting a blood clot (Deep Vein Thrombosis – DVT) in the leg or lungs. Blood clots are very dangerous and can kill. This risk is bigger if your flight is longer than 4 hours.
3. They have short term bad effects on memory, co-ordination, concentration and reaction times, and are addictive if used for a long time, with withdrawal leading to fits, hallucinations, agitation and confusion. They have also become widely used drugs of abuse since they first came on the market. Diazepam in the UK is a controlled drug. The prescribing guidelines doctors have to follow say that that use to treat short-term ‘mild’ anxiety is inappropriate. They are only to be used short term for a ‘crisis in generalised anxiety’. But if you are having such a crisis you are not likely to be fit to fly. Fear of flying in isolation is not a generalised anxiety disorder.
4. Some people get agitated and aggressive after taking diazepam and similar drugs, and behave in a way that they would not normally, which can pose a risk on the plane. This affects everyone’s safety and could get you into trouble with the law. A similar effect can be seen with alcohol, which has led to people being removed from flights.
5. There is evidence use of these drugs stops the normal adjustment response that would gradually lessen anxiety over time, and may increase anxiety in the long term, especially if used repeatedly.
6. Diazepam and similar controlled drugs are illegal in a number of countriesi. They may be confiscated or you may find yourself in trouble with the police.
7. Diazepam stays in your system for some time. If your job or sport needs you to have random drug testing you may fail this having taken diazepam.
8. It is important to tell your travel insurer about your medical conditions and medications you take. If not, there is a risk of your insurer not paying if you try to make a claim.

So we will no longer be providing Diazepam or similar drugs for flight anxiety. Instead please try one of these aviation industry recommended flight anxiety courses.

Fly And Be Calm™: Fly And Be Calm™ is an instant download and comes with a money back guarantee (Guarantee does not apply to app versions). 6 MP3 tracks which include instructions, the fear removal tool and two hypnotic tracks. You can explore information about the app online.

Easy Jet
www.fearlessflyer.easyjet.com

British Airways
https://www.britishairways.com/en-gb/information/travelassistance/flying-with-confidence

Virgin Atlantic
https://www.flyingwithoutfear.co.uk/