Travel Health

We are no longer able to provide private travel vaccinations at Fownhope Medical Centre. In light of the increasing amount of Nurse appointments taken up by providing private travel vaccinations, the GP Partners feel it is not in the best interests of the majority of our patients to continue this service. 

As we hope patients will appreciate, our Practice Nurse time must be focused on NHS work; caring for patients with long term conditions, wound care, childhood immunisation and supporting the GP team. 

The decision to end the service has not been taken lightly, and we apologise for the inconvenience this might cause for some patients needing travel advice. 

If you think you may need an NHS vaccination, please contact reception with at least 8 weeks notice to request a travel vaccination form that we will send out via text message/email.

Please see the attached pages for information about advice, and which vaccinations are private. 

Firstly you need to consider vaccinations at least 8 weeks before you are due to travel, as some jabs need to be given well in advance in order to be effective. 

The following websites provide information about which vaccinations are advisable in different areas of the world:

• www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/

• www.travelhealthpro.org.uk

We can give you a print out of your immunisation history for information if you need to check what vaccinations you’ve had in the past. 

See below for which vaccinations are provided free on the NHS and which must be arranged privately:

NHS Vaccinations	How Often Should it be Renewed for Travel?
Diptheria, polio and tetanus (combined booster)	Every 10 years – following initial course of 5 vaccines
Typhoid	Every 3 years – if needed for travel
Hepatitis A	Every 25 years – following 2 initial vaccinations
Private Vaccinations	Private Vaccinations
Rabies	Japanese Encephalitis
Hepatitis B	Tick borne encephalitis
ACWY	Yellow Fever
Anti malarial medication

If you think you may need an NHS vaccination please pick up a travel vaccination form from Reception, or print one from ‘Our Documents’ page and return it to us. 

Are You Taking Medication Abroad?

The advice below is taken from the gov.uk website.

You need to prove your medicine is prescribed to you if:

• It contains a ‘controlled drug’.
• You have it on you when you’re entering or leaving the UK.

You could get a fine or go to prison if you travel with medicine that is illegal in another country – check with the embassy of the country you’re going to before you travel. 

It is your responsibility to establish the rules for your destination, airline and any country you are travelling through. These may all be different! Please check your prescribed, and any over the counter medications you are taking.

Fownhope Medical Centre can provide a copy of your prescribed medication. To request this, please email fownhope.admin@nhs.net. Please ensure your request is made at least 2 weeks before you travel.