Travel Clinic

Non-urgent advice: Fear of flying

Please note we do not prescribe sedating drugs for Fear of flying. Please refer to our Medication Policies for further information.

The Practice no longer provides 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. 

Please remember to allow at least 6 to 8 weeks to arrange your vaccination appointment before departure. 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.

You can attend your local pharmacy who can provide them or contact the travel clinic at Monklands Hospital on 01236 748748.

You can also obtain them by contacting a private health care provider.

Make an appointment for a travel health risk assessment

To make an appointment for a travel health risk assessment in Scotland, contact the NHS health board where you live. 

Arrange your Travel Health Risk Assessment
The following travel vaccines are free on the NHS in Scotland:

1) diphtheria, polio and tetanus (combined booster)
2) hepatitis A
3) typhoid
4) cholera

It’s likely that you’ll have to pay for vaccines against:

1) yellow fever
2) Japanese encephalitis tick-borne encephalitis
3) rabies

You may also have to pay for the following vaccines if they’re only needed for travel purposes:

1) hepatitis B
2) meningitis
3) tuberculosis (TB)

Travelling with Medication: Your Responsibilities

When you’re traveling, 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

NHS Overview – Travel Vaccinations

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Lonely Planet’s website

International Society of Travel Medicine

Health Advice for the Diabetic 

Medical Advice Services for Travellers Abroad

Travel Health Pro

UK travel health – site developed by a nurse

Some people will develop slight tenderness, redness and sometimes swelling at the site of the injection and a small number may experience slight fever, headache, general aching and malaise approximately 24 hours after the vaccination, lasting about 24 hours. You are advised to take regular analgesia to reduce your temperature (e.g. paracetamol if this is suitable for you) and to drink plenty of non alcoholic fluids. A cold compress applied to the site of the injection may relieve the discomfort. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Under NHS legislation, the NHS ceases to have responsibility for people when they leave the United Kingdom. However, to ensure good patient care the following guidance is offered. People travelling to Europe should be advised to apply for a Global Health Insurance Card.

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.
Please be aware that the whole episode of the treatment should be provided by the private provider, i.e. blood tests and other tests, suture removal, dressing changes, routine wound check, prescribing during your episode of private treatment, etc., and the Practice should not be involved in any aspects of this episode of treatment, with the exception of emergency care relating to the treatment.

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.