Travel Help

Know before you go

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides travel advice online or if you prefer, telephone them on: 0207 0080 232 or 0207 0080 233.

Check list

Discuss your travel plans with your doctor before booking your holiday.

Remember to check the availability of suitable medical facilities at your destination - on some holiday islands you might have to travel to the mainland.

If you are currently undergoing treatment make sure to take enough medicines for the whole duration of your trip

Make sure that you stick to your medication regime and avoid alcohol if necessary.

Take a copy of your current prescription.

You should choose your destination carefully, as you may not be able to have the recommended vaccinations due to your condition. For some, exotic holidays may be inappropriate, check with your doctor.

Always pack your medication in your hand luggage with an emergency supply in another bag.

In some cases it might be helpful to ask your attending doctor for a 'Summary of Diagnosis' to take with you. If you are taken ill, this will help your attending doctor.

Know about where you are going.

If you are carrying medicines with you check to make sure that you do not contravene local regulations.

Make sure that you know how to call home and take your doctor's telephone number with you.

Arrange to contact home regularly by Phone and/or Email.

Passport and travel documentation.

Travel tickets..

If you are receiving or have recently completed medical treatment avoid strong sunlight and dress appropriately.

Leave photocopies of the following important information with friends or relatives (Tip: also consider leaving copies on line, perhaps in an Email account).

Travel insurance documents.

Itinerary and a way of contacting you such as e-mail.

Take enough money for the trip

Consider taking travellers cheques and note the numbers separately

Take a valid credit card and check its expiry date (Tip: consider a pre-paid card).

Have a return ticket or enough cash to buy one

EHIC & GHIC

The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) remains valid until expiry when it is replaced by the Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC).It’s particularly important you get travel insurance with the right cover if you have a pre-existing medical condition. This is because the EHIC & GHIC schemes covers pre-existing conditions, while many travel insurance policies do not. Your EHIC or GHIC is not a substitute for travel insurance. It may not cover all health costs and never covers repatriation costs. Make sure you have travel insurance as well as a EHIC or GHIC.

Brexit

If you are planning on travelling to Europe the UK government has published some useful information here.

Coronavirus

Information for the public on the outbreak of coronavirus in China, including the current situation in the UK and information about the virus and its symptoms can be found by visiting the UK government website.

If the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office advises against travel to a destination and your holiday arrangements have been affected, your travel provider will get in touch and advise you of the options open to you.

Travellers are advised to read the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office travel advice for the country they are travelling to, which includes a link through to the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) TravelHealthPro website that provides specific travel health advice for countries.