Travelling abroad is exciting, but with so many things to see and do when you get there, the basics of health and safety are often neglected.
Every year, people living in the UK go on more than 60 million trips abroad. Most have a safe trip, but some people get ill or have an Accident and need medical treatment while they are away.
Advice on everything from organising travel insurance and vaccinations to preventing DVT and jet lag, can be found on NHS Choices.
If you need any vaccinations relating to foreign travel you need to make an appointment with the practice nurse to discuss your travel arrangements. This will include which countries and areas within countries that you are visiting to decide what vaccinations are required. It is important to make this initial appointment as early as possible – at least 6 weeks before you travel – as a second appointment may be required with the practice nurse to actually receive the vaccinations. Vaccines have to be ordered as they are not a stocked item. Your second appointment needs to be at least 2 weeks before you travel to allow the vaccines to work.
Some travel vaccines are ordered on a private prescription and these incur a charge over and above the normal prescription charge. This is because not all travel vaccinations are included in the services provided by the NHS.
For guidance on travel vaccination click here.