Non-urgent advice: Fear of flying
Non-urgent advice: Fit to Fly or Travel Changes
Our clinicians are not qualified or indemnified to assess how flying or other forms of travel may affect your individual health conditions.
We can, however, provide you with a summary of your medical record which you can give to your airline, travel company or travel insurance provider if required.
If you are pregnant
If you are pregnant and need advice or documentation about flying or travelling, please speak to your midwife. They can advise you about your suitability to travel.
Travel Advice or Travel Immunisations
Patients can access information on what vaccinations are required, together with malarial and safe travel advice at Home – Travel Health Pro
Four Travel Vaccines are available on the NHS (Typhoid, Hepatitis A, DPT and Cholera) at no direct cost to the patient.
- Book your travel vaccinations early. Please allow at least 8 weeks before you fly to arrange your appointment. If you are travelling last minute or booking less than two months in advance, you will likely need to visit a private travel clinic.
- Note: If you are pregnant or have a child travelling under the age of 2 years you should seek advice and all vaccinations required from your journey from the travel clinic.
If your local NHS travel clinic is fully booked and unable to provide your vaccinations, please contact a private travel clinic. Please do not request this from the practice, as we do not offer this service. Thank you for your understanding.
Make an appointment for a travel health risk assessment
Make your appointment for a travel health risk assessment with NHS Lothian Travel Clinics.
Call: 0131 537 2823
Please note: Voicemail is strictly for cancelling or changing existing appointments. New booking requests left via voicemail will not be processed or returned.
Arrange your Travel Health Risk AssessmentVaccination History Form for Travel
Please use the button to access the form to request a copy of your vaccination history for travel purposes.
If you receive additional vaccinations at a travel clinic, please let us know so we can update your medical record.
Request Vaccination HistoryTravelling with Medication: Your Responsibilities
When you’re travelling, it’s crucial to understand and follow the rules for carrying medication, both prescription and over-the-counter. It’s your responsibility to check the specific regulations for your destination, your airline, and any countries you’ll be passing through.
You might need a letter to travel with your medication. Please note that this is not an NHS service. While your GP may be able to provide a letter, they will likely charge a fee for it.
If you’re planning to be abroad for more than two months, your GP may prescribe enough medication to cover you until you can arrange an alternative supply in your destination country.
It’s important to remember that GPs are not responsible for prescribing medications “just in case” for conditions that might develop while you’re abroad.
Non-urgent advice: Useful Links
Post vaccination advice
We request that you wait within the vicinity of the premises for approximately 10 minutes after receiving any vaccines. This is merely a precaution, because in extremely rare circumstances, a person can have an immediate and sometimes severe allergic reaction which would require medical attention.
Check any medication restrictions
Have you checked if there are medication restrictions in the country you’re travelling to, or if you might need a letter to support having medication on board in cases like allergies or insulin? Have a look at the Travel Pro guide and ensure you check with your airline if you aren’t sure.
Flying after an operation?
Make sure you check with your GP or Surgeon any precautions you may need to take and have a look at these guidelines for an idea.
Hepatitis immunisation
Immunisation against infectious Hepatitis (Hepatitis A) is available free of charge on the NHS in connection with travel abroad. However Hepatitis B is not routinely available free of charge and therefore you may be charged for this vaccination when requested in connection with travel abroad.
Private Travel Clinics
If you are unable to wait for our next available travel advice appointment, as advised by the reception staff, then you can attend any Private Travel Clinic—charges will apply at these clinics.
➡ Barnton Pharmacy: My Barnton Pharmacy Travel Clinic➡ Superdrug: Superdrug Health Clinics Travel Vaccinations
➡ Boots: Boots Travel Vaccination Health Advice Service
Excess quantities of regular repeat prescriptions
Medication required for a pre-existing condition should be provided in sufficient quantity to cover the journey and to allow the patient to obtain medical attention abroad. If the patient is returning within the timescale of their usual prescription, then this should be issued (the maximum duration of a prescription is recommended by the Care Trust to be two months, although it is recognised that prescription quantities are sometimes greater than this).
Patients are entitled to carry prescribed medicines, even if originally classed as controlled drugs, for example, morphine sulphate tablets.
For longer visits abroad, the patient should be advised to register with a local doctor for continuing medication (this may need to be paid for by the patient).
General practitioners are not responsible for prescriptions of items required for conditions which may arise while travelling, for example travel sickness or diarrhoea. Patients should be advised to purchase these items from community pharmacies prior to travel.
Planning on having private treatment/surgery in the UK or abroad?
It is also the private providers responsibility to issue a Fit Note covering the entire anticipated period off work, but if any longer time off is then required when you are no longer under the care of the provider then this would be the practice responsibility.