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Travel clinic / foreign travel advice

Fear Of Flying Medication

Please click here for our updated practice policy regarding fear of flying medication.

Before you travel abroad it may be necessary to check whether or not you need special injections or medication for the country you are travelling to. In some cases you can be denied entry to a country if you do not have a certificate proving that you have had the necessary injections.

If you require any travel vaccinations because you are travelling to another country you need to make an appointment at a local pharmacy who offer travel advice to discuss your travel requirements. This will include letting them know which countries and areas within countries that you are visiting to determine what vaccinations are required for the area.  You will also be advised of which vaccines can be administered at Diamond Health Group and which ones you will have to pay for.

The pharmacy will supply you with a travel risk assessment form that needs to be filled out and brought to your appointment.

Further help on which vaccinations you need for your destination country or region can be found at the NHS Fit for travel website.

Please make your appointment as early as possible - at least 6 weeks before you travel - as a second appointment will be required with the practice nurse to actually administer the vaccinations. These vaccines have to be ordered as we do not stock all vaccines. Your second appointment needs to be at least 2 weeks before you travel to allow the vaccines to work. 

The nurses at Diamond Health Group are able to give the following travel vaccines free on the NHS:

  • Polio (given as a combined diphtheria/tetanus/polio jab)
  • Typhoid
  • Hepatitis A

These vaccines are free because they protect against diseases thought to represent the greatest risk to public health if they were brought into the country.

If you are travelling to Europe the NHS has advice and guidance to help you get the most out of your holiday.  See the NHS Fit for ​​​​​​travel advice for further information.

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. To check, please contact the surgery before your appointment. This can only be confirmed once the nurse has seen your questionnaire and ascertained which vaccinations are required.

Self-help travel advice

Here are some simple self help tips you can follow to make your trip safer:

  • be safe
  • be hygienic
  • take a small first aid kit including re-hydration sachets
  • watch what you eat
  • drink bottled water only
  • avoid ice cubes if they are made with tap water
  • use effective sun protection against i.e. high factor sun creams
  • take any medication your GP advises to protect yourself, like Malaria tablets

Further advice on staying healthy while abroad can also be found at the NHS fit for travel website.