Advice and Getting An Appointment
Prior to travel please allow as much time as possible to arrange your appointment for advice and vaccinations (min 6 weeks). This will be with our practice nurse. The nurse will need to know which countries and areas you plan to visit to determine the correct vaccinations for your trip. The practice only provides those it is required to under the NHS contract, these are: Hepatitis A, Typhoid, Diphtheria, Tetanus, Polio. For any other travel vaccines you will be directed to a private travel clinic and charges will apply.
It is important to make this initial appointment as early as possible, as a second appointment will be required with the Practice Nurse to actually receive the vaccinations. These vaccines have to be ordered as they are not a stock vaccine. Your second appointment needs to be at least 2 weeks before you travel to allow the vaccines to work.
Travel Form
Please complete the travel risk assessment form available here at least 6 weeks before you intend to travel. Once completed this will be reviewed by the nurses and you will be contacted to make any necessary appointment. Please allow time for this to take place.
Advice on Medicines and Vaccines for Patients Travelling Outside the UK
Under NHS legislation, the NHS ceases to have responsibility for people when they leave the UK. GP’s are not required to provide prescriptions for the treatment of a condition that may arise while the patient is abroad.
Medication required for a pre-existing condition should be provided in sufficient quantity to cover the journey and a reasonable stay (ie for a holiday). The maximum duration of a prescription is recommended to be 2 months. Patients are entitled to carry prescribed medicines, even if originally classed as controlled drugs.
For longer visits abroad, the patient should be advised to register with a local doctor for continuing medication and this may need to be paid for by the patient.
GPs are not responsible for prescriptions of items required for conditions which may arise while travelling, e.g. travel sickness or diarrhoea. Patients should be advised to purchase these from their local pharmacy before they travel or from their destination.
Drugs for malaria prophylaxis are not prescribed on the NHS. Patients will be advised to purchase these over the counter where possible. For prescription only medicines such as doxycycline, lariam, malarone, maloprim, GPs may charge for and issue a private prescription.
Healthy Travel Leaflet
You may find the following leaflet helpful when making your travel arrangements.
Please download and print our useful guide below about Mosquito advice.