We are advised by NHS England, the British Medical Association (BMA) and Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) that travel vaccinations area low clinical priority given the other demands on the NHS. However, we recognise that they remain important to our patients, so we endeavour to offer these where possible.
Given the wider demands on our time which are clinically urgent you may be advised that the time window for your vaccinations is inconvenient for your travel plans. In this scenario if we have no availability to accommodate your needs we will signpost you to local private travel providers who may be able to serve any additional needs e.g. Japanese encephalitis and tick borne encephalitis, meningitis vaccines, radies, TB and Yellow Fever. Please be a ware that some travel vaccinations incur a fee, payable in advance.
Many people are taking long haul holidays requiring complicated courses of vaccines. Children also need to he vaccinated for travel abroad. Most travel vaccinations are free. To assist you in these requirements please see additional travel health information below.
Booking your appointment with the nurse
- Travel Risk Assessment:
Please contact our reception team who will send you a link to a pre-travel questionnaire. This will be reviewed by our nursing team and we will then contact you to advise the next steps (usually by text message) within 1 week. - Please allow plenty of time:
Patients are advised to allow plenty of time for vaccinations (at least two or three months) especially if travelling to an out of the way place where they will be living or working among local people. Some courses of vaccine such as rabies or Hepatitis B need to be given over several weeks.
Prescriptions
If you require a prescription for vaccinations or anti-malaria medication this will be ready to collect 3 working days following your appointment.
Holiday Health
It is always a wise precaution to pack some essential items in case of illness on holiday. Do choose medicines according to your needs and the country you are intending to visit. lf you take prescription medicines regularly remember to pack them too.
You may want to consider packing the following:
- Paracetamol Travel Sickness tablets Plasters and a small crepe bandage
- Rehydration solutions such as Dioralyte, Anti diarrhoeal for example lmodium
- High factor sunscreen
- Anti-material tablets, Water purification tablets, Insect repellent
- Condoms or other contraceptives
- Sunhats for yourself and children
Mosquito Bite Avoidance for Travellers
In many tropical countries, mosquitoes can spread diseases such as dengue, chikungunya, West Nile, malaria, yellow fever and Zika. Here are five simple rules you should follow to reduce your risk of infections spread by mosquitoes.
Mosquito Bite Avoidance for Travellers Leaflet.
Useful Travel Information Websites
The Travel Health Organisations section on this website has lots of useful links to help you.
Prescribing Policy for patients Travelling Abroad
Travel Vaccination Charges
We offer most of the travel health service at no additional charge to the patient. However the NHS does not cover the cost of all the treatments you may need. Therefore, for some services you may need to pay:
- CHARGES FOR VACCINATIONS: Yellow Fever (1 dose + certificate) £58.00, Meningitis ACWY (1 dose) £50.00, Rabies (course of 3) £183.00, Japanese encephalitis (per course) £195.00, Hepatitis B £45.00 each (3 required).
- PAYMENTS CAN BE MADE VIA CARD, CHEQUE OR CASH
Malaria Tablets are NOT provided on the NHS and sometimes can be bought over the counter or may require a private prescription. The nurse can advise regarding this, or you could discuss with your pharmacist. REMEMBER some tablets have to be started at least one week before you travel, and you need continue to take them when you return to the UK for the advised length of time.